IMAGE AVAILABLE: Coast Guard, good Samaritan rescue 2 near Indian Island

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 11th District Pacific Southwest Contact: 11th District Public Affairs Office: (510) 437-3325 After Hours: (510) 772-8865 11th District online newsroom

Coast Guard, good Samaritan rescue 2 near Indian Island

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MCKINLEYVILLE, Calif. — The Coast Guard and a good Samaritan crew worked together to rescue two people whose 17-foot sailboat capsized near Indian Island off the coast of Eureka, Friday. 

Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay watchstanders received multiple calls via phone and VHF channel 16 around 12:40 p.m. reporting a capsized sailboat, the Catalina, and two people in the water. 

The Sector Humboldt Bay command center personnel issued an urgent marine information broadcast while crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Barracuda, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Humboldt County Sheriff Office's Marine Unit launched in response. 

A good Samaritan crew arrived on scene first, pulled the people out of the water while California game wardens righted the capsized vessel.

"We're thankful for our committed, professional maritime partners and the vigilant boaters who acted so quickly and cooperatively today," said Cmdr. Brendan Hilleary, the Sector Humboldt Bay response chief. "The mariners who responded to our emergency broadcast did a great job working with first responders to prevent a tragedy and save two lives." 

The Barracuda crew took the vessel in tow and moored it at Englund Marine Supply in Eureka.
 
No injuries were reported. 

-USCG-