Cruise ship diverts 120 miles to rescue 74-year-old sailor stranded off Oregon coast
A sailor's 29-foot sailing vessel was stranded nearly 500 miles off the Oregon coast last week and a cruise ship diverted to rescue him. (Source: U.S.Coast Guard)
A cruise ship took a major detour last week to rescue a 74-year-old sailor who was stranded nearly 500 miles off the coast of Oregon.
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The U.S. Coast Guard recounted the rescue of the unfortunate Canadian mariner who was trying to sail from Hawaii to Vancouver, British Columbia, a trip he had made four times before, when he was forced to call for help.
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The sailor was attempting to navigate gale-force winds and 30-foot seas last week when the mast broke on his 29-foot sailing vessel, the Alice, and his engine would not work, according to the Coast Guard’s statement. Additionally, the sailor had suffered a shoulder injury.
Hearing the man’s call for help, Coast Guard watchstanders launched the rescue effort and a long-range aircraft was deployed to act as an "eye in the sky" to gauge the damage to the boat and how rough the seas were. The Coast Guard-sponsored global safety network AMVER was also activated to help identify vessels that may be close to the sailor’s position.
The crew of the cruise ship Silver Whisper heard the call and stepped up to help. They went 120 miles off their intended route to find him as a second Coast Guard aircraft took off to help provide assistance from the air, the Coast Guard explained. The Silver Whisper crew located the sailor 489 miles off shore and pulled him onto the ship, where its medical staff treated him until they reached shore.
What they're saying:
The Coast Guard credited the man’s rescue to the crew of the Silver Whisper as well as the teamwork of its watchstanders and other Guardsmen, but also praised the sailor’s preparedness for the journey for ensuring that he made it through the ordeal.
"This mariner’s experience and preparedness allowed the Coast Guard and other agencies to communicate with him and effect a rescue," said Scott Giard, Coast Guard Northwest District Search and Rescue Program Manager. "His foresight to bring a satellite communicator averted a tragedy. We would also like to thank Silver Whisper for their assistance with this rescue."
The Source: Information for this article was taken from the U.S. Coast Guard. This story was reported from Orlando.