SEQUIM — A Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued a 74-year-old man from the waters off Sequim on Saturday.
The MH-65 helicopter crew from the Coast Guard station in Port Angeles, located and hoisted the man from the water, and safely transferred him to medical personnel at Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles, said Petty Officer 1st Class Kayla Gamester, a watchstander at Sector Puget Sound.
The man was not identified. Gamester said she did not know his condition.
Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound watchstanders received a report from the man’s wife at about 12:20 p.m. that he had gone missing while kayaking with his grandson. The wife had returned home to find the grandson alone and summoned rescuers, the Coast Guard said.
A 45-foot Response Boat-medium crew out of the Port Angeles Coast Guard station and an aircrew launched to search the area north of Sequim Bay.
“Thankfully the gentlemen was wearing a life jacket, which aided in both our ability to find him and drastically increased his survivability,” Gamester said.
“His life jacket aided in keeping him afloat, increasing his odds of being seen, and limited his amount of exertion as he wait for assistance.”
Seas at the time of the rescue were reported as being calm with a water temperature of 53 degrees Fahrenheit.
