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Coast Guard rescues capsized boater on Shelter Island

Published 6:15 am Monday, November 11, 2019

By Michael Lockett Juneau Empire

In this file photo from June 26, 2018, a helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka carries out training in Juneau. (Courtesy photo | Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios via U.S. Coast Guard)
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In this file photo from June 26, 2018, a helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka carries out training in Juneau. (Courtesy photo | Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios via U.S. Coast Guard)

In this file photo from June 26, 2018, a helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka carries out training in Juneau. (Courtesy photo | Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios via U.S. Coast Guard)
In this file photo from June 26, 2018, a helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka carries out training in Juneau. (Courtesy photo | Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios via U.S. Coast Guard)

Coast Guardsmen from Sitka and Juneau rescued a boater near Shelter Island on Saturday.

The Sector Juneau command center received a distress call from the boater at a 10:54 a.m. saying that his boat had become disabled after capsizing, the Coast Guard said in a release. The Coast Guard sent an MH-60 Jayhawk from Air Station Sitka and the 45-foot Response Boat-Medium from Juneau.

The man was able to paddle to shore before the helicopter was able to locate and lift him out, the release stated.

“Fortunately, the individual was wearing an anti-exposure suit, and was equipped with an inReach device and a cell phone to notify us of his location,” Petty Officer Brian Wells said in a statement. “All of these factors contributed to his survival despite the adverse weather conditions.”

Air temperature was approximately 32 degrees on Saturday, according the National Weather Service, with wind gusting up to 45 mph.

• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.

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