ASTORIA, Ore. — The Coast Guard rescued two kiteboarders Tuesday evening after they were swept out to sea near Damon Point in Grays Harbor County, Washington.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River received a notification at approximately 8 p.m., from Grays Harbor Communications 911 Center regarding two people being swept out to sea. Watchstanders directed the launch of a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew and a 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew from Coast Guard Station Grays Harbor, as well as a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Astoria.
After battling low cloud ceilings and poor visibility for 25 minutes, the aircrew spotted a woman stranded on a sandbar and hoisted her to safety. The Jayhawk crew was then notified by the Ocean Shores Police Department that a second person was stranded on a rock jetty. The crew located the man and hoisted him from the rocks to safety.
The aircrew landed at the Ocean Shores Municipal Airport at 10:54 p.m., and transferred both individuals to awaiting emergency medical services personnel.
"Two hours is a long time in that wind and water, and they stayed with it," said Lt. Cmdr. Alex Cardenas, search and rescue mission coordinator at Sector Columbia River. "Dispatch relayed the call quickly and the aircrew flew a tough approach twice in very limited visibility. The two kiteboarders did the hardest part before we ever got overhead."
Weather conditions at the time of the search were 12 mph winds, 1-foot waves, 58-degree air temperature, and 55-degree water temperature.
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