The Times-Standard
ORICK, Calif. — A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew plucked a man from an island in Redwood Creek near Orick after the boat he was in flipped in fast water Thursday night.
The unidentified 45-year-old man had been “out gathering redwood logs” from the creek when his boat capsized, the Coast Guard reported in a statement. He made it to an island and began shouting, which was heard by people at a nearby RV park, the Coast Guard reported.
The Orick Fire Department and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office responded. The man had managed to build a small campfire to keep warm and dry his clothes, the Coast Guard reported. Due to the swift water, firefighters and deputies determined that an airlift would be the safest and fastest way to rescue the man.
A Coast Guard MH-65C Dolphin helicopter was launched from Air Station Humboldt Bay in McKinleyville at 11 p.m. Pilot Lt. Todd Vorenkamp said that the deputy on the ground in Orick notified the chopper crew of power lines crossing directly over the island.
“Had we not known about those power lines before arriving overhead, they would have posed a much greater danger to the helicopter and flight crew,” Vorenkamp said.
The deputy was able to communicate directly with the crew using a marine band radio, and also had the man walk to the north end of the island away from the power lines to prepare for the rescue.
The helicopter lowered its rescue basket to the man and hoisted him to safety. Petty Officer 1st Class Jacob Linder, the aircraft’s flight mechanic, performed the hoist while using night vision goggles, and was able to keep tail of the aircraft clear of the wires.
The aircraft then returned to the air station.
The Coast Guard recommends that all residents and visitors use extreme caution when recreating and working on the inland waterways of Northern California. Winter and spring runoff, high water levels and frigid water temperatures combine to make the rivers and streams in the area extremely hazardous. Also, all those spending time on or near the water should wear personal floatation devices and be equipped with emergency signaling devices and a marine band VHF radio to contact the Coast Guard or other emergency services.
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