WALDPORT – A man and woman were rescued from Alsea Bay by Central Oregon Coast Fire & Rescue crews Thursday afternoon after their foot-powered paddle craft capsized about 3:30 p.m. in a heavy wind and rain storm.
The couple’s identity was not released by COCF&R, but Chief Jamie Mason said they were staying at McKinley’s Marina and RV Park.
The woman was wearing a life vest and found in the water and hanging onto the paddle boat about 100 yards from the Port of Alsea marina, Mason said. Rescue crews took her to the boat landing and awaiting ambulance paramedics while they returned to get the man, who was standing on a sandbar just east of the Alsea Bay bridge. Low tide was at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Mason said he called for the U.S. Coast Guard helicopter as backup, then cancelled it when the crews got to the man. The helicopter was in North Bend, he said.
The man and woman were treated by paramedics at the marina and not taken to a hospital.
“The conditions were very severe for any watercraft Thursday,” Mason said. “Boaters need to be aware of conditions and the capabilities of their craft.”
Thank you!
Amazing. There were so many logs and so much debris floating in the bay.