The Coast Guard rescued a missing boater and a dog approximately 18 miles east of Avalon, California, Saturday evening.
Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles watchstanders received a distress call at approximately 8 p.m. from a Good Samaritan aboard a 34-foot sailing vessel. The Good Samaritan reported that his friend and the friend’s dog were missing. The vessel was unable to communicate directly with the Coast Guard on channel 16 but relayed information through TowBoatUS Ventura. The missing individual was last seen 4 to 5 hours earlier before reportedly falling asleep.
Sector Los Angeles assumed search and rescue coordination, launching a Coast Guard Station Los Angeles boat crew, diverting Coast Guard Cutter Narwhal, and requesting air support from Coast Guard Sector San Diego. Local agencies BayWatch Avalon and BayWatch Cabrillo also assisted in the search.
A Coast Guard helicopter crew located the missing boater and dog in a dinghy approximately 1,400 yards from the reporting party’s sailing vessel. The individual was reported to have mild hypothermia but no major medical concerns. BayWatch Cabrillo embarked the survivor and transported them to shore, where paramedics were waiting at the dock.
The Coast Guard Station Los Angeles boat crew towed the dinghy back to the sailing vessel, while Coast Guard Cutter Narwhal remained on scene to tow the disabled sailing vessel to Newport Beach.
The original announcement can be found here.