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(U.S. Coast Guard video by Air Station Kodiak / February 19, 2013) |
The Coast Guard rescued a stranded boater Monday night near Port Graham in the Kenai Peninsula area.
A good Samaritan in Seldovia notified the Coast Guard that the boater’s 12-foot skiff become swamped around 9:35 Monday night.
The man was reportedly in his 50’s and left Seldovia earlier that day to go fishing. His skiff became swamped in 28 mph winds and 6 to 8-foot seas.
A Coast Guard helicopter rescued the boater before midnight. The boater used a cellphone to call a friend, however the Coast Guard recommended having other means of communication since cellphones can have limited reach in parts of Alaska.
“[We] recommend taking a VHF marine radio with you and filing a float plan to let people know where you are going and when you plan to return,” said Jimmy Belcher, a search and rescue controller with Sector Anchorage. "Ensuring you have a way to contact authorities or family when you set out on a voyage is critical and can mean the difference between life and death if you run into trouble.”
Contact Neil Torquiano
