Peninsula Daily News News Sources
UNION — The Coast Guard helped the Mason County sheriff’s office rescue three overdue kayakers on the Skokomish River at the Hood Canal.
Coast Guard spokesman Eric Chandler in Seattle says the three were spotted early today by a family member who was searching for them.
Mason County deputies said the kayakers, all from the Shelton area, had encountered rough waters while trying to get to the mouth of the river and became stranded for almost 12 hours.
The three tried to use a cell phone to call for help, but it had become wet and didn’t work, deputies added.
A Coast Guard copter from Port Angeles hoisted two of the three aboard while a rescue swimmer helped the third kayaker walk to safety.
The helicopter took the two kayakers to be checked out for hypothermia at a medical center.