SEARCH SUSPENDED FOR MAN WHO FELL FROM SHIP OFF OREGON COAST
SEATTLE - The
Coast Guard has suspended the search for a man who fell into the
ocean while climbing down the ladder of a 558-foot merchant
vessel to a Columbia River pilot vessel near Astoria, Ore., Monday
evening.
The
Coast Guard searched for the 50-year-old man for about 18 hours
and searched a 500 square mile area off the coast of Oregon
and Washington.
Two 47-foot motor lifeboats from Coast Guard
Station Cape Disappointment, Wash., and an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter
from Coast Guard Air Station Astoria were launched to assist, shortly
after receiving the report Monday night.
The 47-foot motor
lifeboats searched for an hour before returning to the station due to
severe weather conditions. The Jayhawk searched for the man until
12:30 a.m., before they too had to return due to heavy rain and fog
that limited visibility to less than 100 feet.
Two HH-60 Jayhawk
helicopters from Air Station Astoria and an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter
from Air Station Port Angeles, Wash., searched for the man throughout
the day. A Columbia River bar helicopter and two pilot vessels
also assistied in the search.
Coast Guardsman from Station Cape
Disappointment and local authorities conducted shoreline searches north
and south of the entrance to the Columbia River.
Today’s weather conditions were winds of 25 mph and 14-to-16-foot seas.
Monday’s weather conditions were 30-to-50 mph winds with 18- to-20-foot seas. The name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
### The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the
Department of Homeland Security dedicated to protecting the safety and security of America. |
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