Three people and a dog were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard Sunday September 12th, adrift in a life raft approximately 45 miles off Lincoln City. The Coast Guard rescued 2 men, a woman and a dog found adrift in a life raft after the 55-foot fishing vessel ‘Royal’ sank 45 miles off Lincoln City, Sunday afternoon approximately 45 miles off Lincoln City.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector North Bend received a distress signal from an electronic position indicating radio beacon at 2:00pm Sunday afternoon which was registered to the 44-foot gray and blue commercial fishing vessel ‘Royal.’
An urgent marine information broadcast was issued by the U.S. Coast Guard and a rescue crew aboard an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter was immediately dispatched.
At approximately 4:00pm, the aircrew located a debris field and life raft approximately 6 miles from the beacon’s last transmitted location approximately 45 miles off Lincoln City.
A rescue swimmer was deployed by free-fall and began recovering the survivors. The rescue swimmer assisted the individuals and dog with their safe hoist into the cabin of the helicopter. The last survivor was hoisted at 4:30pm.
The survivors were transported to awaiting friends and family at Air Facility Newport. They were in stable condition upon arrival and did not require medical attention.
“They acted quickly and had the necessary equipment to survive an emergency like this,” said Lt. Robert Pfaff, pilot and flight commander during the rescue. “Their preparation and readiness for a worst case scenario saved their lives.”
