Coast Guard Swimmer Saves Man Moments After Boat Capsizes From Massive Wave
An impressive video is going viral that shows a rescue swimmer saving a boater just moments before his boat capsizes off the Pacific Coast.
The U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest posted about the rescue on Twitter. They said, “Talk about arriving in the nick of time! While conducting a training mission at the mouth of the Columbia River, 2 Coast Guard air crews received a #MAYDAY broadcast…”
(2/4)…who launched motor life boats from STA Cape Disappointment, the air crews arrived on scene to find the vessel floundering in the surf! The surf made rescue by boat dangerous, so the aircrew decided to lower the rescue swimmer and have the owner enter the water for rescue… pic.twitter.com/z92WvzpTG9
— USCGPacificNorthwest (@USCGPacificNW) February 3, 2023
They continued, saying: “…the air crews arrived on scene to find the vessel floundering in the surf! The surf made rescue by boat dangerous, so the aircrew decided to lower the rescue swimmer and have the owner enter the water for rescue…”
It seems they made the right call because just as the boater was entering the water, a massive wave crashed overhead and capsized the boat entirely. The U.S. Coast Guard shared a video of the incident on Twitter and it looks bleak, but they were pleased to share that the rescue swimmer was able to recover the boater in the end.
(3/4) As he entered the water the vessel capsized but the rescue swimmer was able to safely recover the individual. He was flown back to Coast Guard Base Astoria where EMS was waiting to evaluate and treat the man. pic.twitter.com/woJ72rkFz7
— USCGPacificNorthwest (@USCGPacificNW) February 3, 2023
According to FOX NEWS, the individual who was rescued was later identified as a fugitive from Canada, 35-year-old Jericho Labonte who stole the boat that was capsized. He’s also wanted in Oregon for crimes related to the famous Goonies House.
(4/4) All in all, it’s just another day for the Coast Guard men and women who spend their days #ProtectingThePNW
Photos and video by AET1 Kyle Turcotte pic.twitter.com/WNUnAe5OF5
— USCGPacificNorthwest (@USCGPacificNW) February 3, 2023
According to the Victorian Police in Canada, Labonte was detained by U.S. police and is currently in custody.
