Full Notification

On 10/3/13, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Helicopter, known as ‘Henry-One’ was on routine air-patrol, flying over the Santa Rosa area in Sonoma County.

At 5:47 PM, the flight crew, consisting of Pilot Paul Bradley and Tactical Flight Officer-Deputy Sheriff Chris Mahoney overheard a radio transmission from Marin County Fire Dispatch requesting fire and rescue personnel for an ocean rescue near the mouth of Tomales Bay in Marin County.

Henry One responded along with the United States Coast Guard and Marin County Emergency Personnel.

Within eight-minutes of the ocean rescue radio transmission, Henry-One arrived on scene and the crew immediately located a distressed windsurfer that was in the water just outside the mouth of Tomales Bay. The windsurfer was clinging to his board, intermittently waving his arms, signaling he was in distress.

Pilot Bradley landed the helicopter on the west shore of Tomales Bay and Deputy Mahoney configured the aircraft for a long-line rescue. In a matter of moments, once the aircraft had been rigged for a rescue, Deputy Mahoney attached himself to the bottom of the long-line and Pilot Bradley flew him to the distressed windsurfer. Deputy Mahoney secured the subject in a rescue device and Pilot Bradley flew them, at the bottom of the long-line to shore at Dillon Beach where Emergency Personnel were waiting to assist.

The entire Henry One Flight Crew routinely trains for rescues in the ocean, on cliffs and other remote areas located along the North Coast. The aircraft and crew members always carry water rescue equipment for incidents such as this.

This press release was authored by Lieutenant Tim Duke. For additional information pertaining to this ocean rescue, contact Lieutenant Duke at (707) 565-3586.