Nine kayakers were rescued near Anacortes in Washington State yesterday. According to reports, a "Coast Guard aircrew from Air Station Port Angeles, aboard an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and a Navy aircrew from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Search and Rescue, aboard an MH-60 Knighthawk helicopter, were able to safely hoist all nine people, who were wearing life jackets, and transport them to Whidbey General Hospital in good condition at about 3 p.m. “The Coast Guard and Navy coordinated well and that resulted in a successful outcome,” said Mike McKiernan, command duty officer at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound. “These people also had the right safety equipment with them, including a VHF-FM radio, and they were wearing their life jackets.” An instructor from the kayaking group contacted the Coast Guard via VHF-FM radio at about 1:10 p.m., alerting authorities that the group had become separated. Coast Guard and Navy aircrews, a boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Bellingham, aboard a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium, and a boatcrew from Skagit County Fire and Rescue launched to assist. Weather on scene was reported to be 3 to 4 foot seas with 15-knot winds, with a small craft advisory in effect."
So all's well that end well in this case. All the kayakers were reported in good condition.
The helicopter crew videoed part of the rescue.
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