A woman died and a man was left with injuries after the U.S. Coast Guard rescued the two boaters from a disabled and grounded 31-foot sailboat near the San Juan Islands, Washington.
According to the Coast Guard, Puget Sound watchstanders received a mayday call from the sailboat's captain around 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 3, stating his sailboat was disabled and drifting toward land.
In a news release, the Coast Guard noted there was snowy conditions and 25 to 30 mph winds with 4 to 6-foot seas that night.
#Breaking (1/2) Last night, a #USCG boatcrew and aircrew rescued 2 boaters from a disabled and grounded 31-foot sailboat from the San Juan Islands area. The crews rescued a 56-year-old man and recovered a woman from the water who later succumbed to her injuries... pic.twitter.com/SiKxHhak7h
鈥� USCGPacificNorthwest (@USCGPacificNW) February 5, 2025
The Coast Guard command centre launched a rescue crew at Air Station Port Angeles to locate the boaters, who were both confirmed to be Canadian.
"As Coast Guard crews were attempting the rescue, the sailboat ran aground. After the mast of the vessel collapsed, the aircrew was able to lower the rescue swimmer to reach the individuals," noted the news release.
After the rescue swimmer retrieved the man and he was hoisted onto the rescue boat, the helicopter crew located the woman in the water and guided the boat crew to her location. She was recovered unconscious and both boaters were taken to St. Joesph Medical Center in Bellingham, where the woman later died.
A Coast Guard member was also injured during the rescue and was transported to the hospital for evaluation and released later that night.
