Full Notification

Henry 1 rescue 4/22/2015: CR#150422-015

On 4/22/2015, at about 1:26 pm, Sheriff’s Helicopter Henry 1 was dispatched along with Sea Ranch Fire Department, Timber Cove Fire Department, Coast Life Support, State Parks Lifeguards and CALFIRE regarding two kayakers in distress off the coast of the Sea Ranch. A citizen in the area of Galleons Reach reported that she could see two kayakers who appeared to be in distress in rough surf. One of the kayakers was out of his boat in the water.

Fire Department crews, State Lifeguards and a resident Sheriff’s Deputy arrived on scene and located the kayakers about 200 yards from shore. One of the kayakers returned to shore on his own while the second had gotten back on his boat but appeared to be in distress as he was lying down on his boat.

Henry 1 arrived on scene at about 1:50 pm. The crew observed that one kayaker was back on his kayak, in the water, trying to paddle in the surf without making much headway. The crew landed on shore and reconfigured the helicopter for a 100’ long-line rescue. They attached a 100’ rescue rope to the bottom of the helicopter. The pilot flew the paramedic, on the end of the rope, to the remaining kayaker. The paramedic secured the kayaker in the “horse-collar” rescue device and the pilot flew both the rescuer and the kayaker to shore. The kayaker was turned over, exhausted but uninjured, to State Parks and Fire Department personnel.

A state parks lifeguard recovered the kayak.

The Henry 1 crew consists of a pilot, deputy sheriff/EMT and a paramedic, all trained to perform long line rescues in the ocean, on cliffs and other remote areas located along the North Coast. For additional information on the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Helicopter unit, please visit www.friendsofhenry1.org

Prepared by Sergeant Pete Quartarolo 707.565.7196