By Sentinel Staff
A man who was overdue in his 24-foot landing craft on a trip from Point Baker to Wrangell was rescued by a Coast Guard Air Station Sitka helicopter Friday after searchers found him and his boat on a beach in Steamer Bay, 20 miles southwest of Wrangell.
The 85-year old man was displaying symptoms of early-stage hypothermia, but was otherwise in good condition, the Coast Guard said. He was airlifted to Wrangell for medical attention, and Wrangell volunteers said they planned to take him back to retrieve his boat, which remained secured on the beach.
A 24-foot landing craft is seen on a beach in Steamer Bay, 20 miles southwest of Wrangell, after the Coast Guard rescued the craft’s 85-year-old owner Friday. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Wrangell Search and Rescue)
The Coast Guard received the initial call at 3 p.m. Thursday. Sector Juneau issued an urgent marine information broadcast to alert mariners in the area, and the Douglas Denman and two boats from Wrangell Search and Rescue started searching Thursday evening.
Unfavorable weather Thursday night pushed back the start of searching from the air until first light on Friday, when the Sitka helicopter and a plane from Wrangell joined the effort.
After Wrangell searchers located the man and his boat in Steamer Bay they relayed the location to the helicopter, which landed for the pickup.
The man told rescuers that he had had problems finding his way due to poor weather and visibility.
Wrangell SAR is working with the Coast Guard to determine what other factors may have complicated the man’s voyage, the Coast Guard said.
“Thanks to a cooperative effort among multiple teams ashore, on the water, and in the air, this gentleman was located and is safe today,” Lt. Jonathan Orthman, Coast Guard co-pilot on the rescue, said in a news release. “We’re grateful to Wrangell search and rescue for their tremendous partnership, and for finding this man.”
