THIS REPORT IS from Petty Officer 3rd Class Katelyn Shearer at Coast Guard 13th District External Affairs in Seattle.
The Coast Guard did not identify the Ella Bella’s skipper or the passenger:
PORT ANGELES — Coast Guard crews rescued two people after their 32-foot vessel ran aground three miles east of Port Angeles on Thursday.
An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from the Port Angeles Coast Guard station on Ediz Hook hoisted the two and transferred them to emergency medical personnel at the station at 7:39 p.m. The two had no injuries.
The captain of the Ella Bella contacted the Coast Guard via VHF-FM channel 16 around 5:15 p.m., saying that his vessel had lost power and was dragging anchor.
The man requested help contacting a vessel assist company to tow his vessel to shore.
The Coast Guard attempted to connect him with an available company, but the company’s representatives had difficulties establishing communication with the Ella Bella.
The Dolphin aircrew and a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium from the Port Angeles Coast Guard station launched at 5:42 p.m. The RB-M crew was unable to approach the vessel because the water was too shallow.
At 5:57 p.m., the captain of Ella Bella called the Coast Guard, saying that he and his passenger were abandoning ship and getting into a life raft.
The two drifted to shore on the raft. The Dolphin crew lowered their rescue swimmer to the beach and hoisted the two into the helicopter.
“Our crews performed exceptionally during this dynamic case,” said Eric Cookson, command duty officer at Sector Puget Sound in Seattle.
“The shallow water depth and high winds made the rescue particularly challenging, but they were able to think on their feet and get the two people the help they required.”
Ella Bella remained hard aground, and the owner is working with a vessel assist company to remove the vessel.
There were no reports of pollution.
The Coast Guard is investigating the incident.
Weather on scene was reported to be 3-foot seas, 12 mph winds, an air temperature of 52 degrees F. and a water temperature of 50 degrees F.
