Kodiak, Alaska — A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew located and rescued two overdue boaters in the vicinity of Harriet Point, near Kenai, Sunday afternoon.
The aircrew located the men in good condition and transported them aboard the helicopter to awaiting family members in Kenai.
A family member reported the boaters overdue Sunday to Coast Guard Sector Anchorage command center watchstanders. The two male boaters had departed on their 16-foot skiff along Kenai River, Wednesday, for a voyage to Drift River and were scheduled to return to Kenai River on Friday.
The watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and directed the launch of the Jayhawk crew. Within approximately an hour of searching the path of the boaters, the Jayhawk crew spotted the skiff inland of Harriet Point, on the west side of Cook Inlet. The boaters had run out of gas and beached their vessel.
“The boaters did the right thing and stayed with their vessel once it ran out of gas,” said Lt. j.g. Laura Gadziala, command duty officer, Sector Anchorage. “It’s a lot easier for us to find a boat than an individual person.”
The Coast Guard encourages boaters to file a float plan with a friend or family member. For more information on float plans, please visit www.uscgboating.org.
