NEAH BAY — Two of the three survivors of an April capsizing thanked a Coast Guard boat crew for saving their lives as the crew were officially commended for rescuing them.
Three boat members at Coast Guard Station Neah Bay were recognized during the ceremony at the station Friday.
Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew Staton and Petty Officers 3rd Class Josh Shubin and Corey Castillo were awarded the Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon for saving three fishermen from the water near Stawberry Rock in Makah Bay and treating them for symptoms of hypothermia April 18.
Capt. Joe Raymond, Sector Puget Sound commander, and Master Chief Petty Officer Richard Evans, command Sector Puget Sound master chief, presented the award, citing the 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew members for outstanding performance of duty during the rescue.
The fishermen’s 21-foot vessel capsized after two rogue waves, one estimated to be 25 feet tall, hit them while they were lingcod fishing, the men said.
Six seconds for call
John Waring, the vessel’s captain, said Friday he had about six seconds to make the distress radio call that led rescuers to the boat’s location.
“My VHF radio is always keyed to channel 16,” Waring said. “I knew I had to make the call or it would be over.
“Without good radio discipline or the situational awareness to provide our location that quickly, we wouldn’t have had a chance.”
Randy Grovin also thanked the crew members for the rescue.
The fishermen were reportedly in the 52-degree water for 70 minutes when the boat crew from Coast Guard Station Neah Bay arrived on scene.
All were reportedly suffering from signs of hypothermia when they were transferred to emergency medical responders waiting at the station.
