April 18, 2016
Three fishermen have been rescued from the water at Makah Bay following the capsizing of their fishing vessel. The vessel was able to radio a Mayday message via VFH radio to the Coast Guard before the vessel capsized. The three men were wearing lifejackets and sitting on top of the overturned vessel when the 47-foot Coast Guard life boat arrived on the scene. The accident involved a small 21-foot fishing vessel. The men were transported to the Coast Guard Station at Neah Bay. One man was treated for hypothermia following the incident.
Vessels big and small must always be prepared for an emergency. Having proper safety equipment aboard your boat that is available to quickly be used may mean the difference between surviving and not surviving a sudden accident such as this. Today VFH radios are relatively inexpensive and, as this case proves, well worth the investment when disaster suddenly strikes your vessel. It is a well recognized statistic in sinking and capsizing cases that your chances of survival are far higher if you are wearing a life jacket.