Sailor, 86, and dog rescued 460 miles off California coast

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 4 Nov, 00:57 · Archive

An 86-year-old sailor and his dog were rescued 460 miles off the California coast after two months missing at sea.

An 86-year-old mariner and his dog were rescued from their disabled sailboat 460 miles off the California coast after more than two months missing at sea. The pair had set sail from Astoria, Oregon, in August aboard the Willow Wind, bound for Pago Pago in American Samoa. Contact with the sailor was lost on 20 August, but he was not reported missing until 24 October, when the US Coast Guard launched a search.

Three days after the report, the Coast Guard received an emergency beacon alert from the boat. The service coordinated a search involving a C-27 Spartan aircrew from Sacramento, an HC-130 Hercules aircrew, and the Coast Guard Cutter Robert Ward, while also requesting assistance from nearby vessels. A Coast Guard aircrew spotted the Willow Wind that evening.

Rough seas initially prevented immediate rescue, but the motor vessel Grand Orion reached the sailboat and brought the man and his dog aboard the next day. The following morning, a Coast Guard helicopter crew collected them from the Grand Orion about 170 miles west of Ventura, California, and flew them to San Diego. The sailor was taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital for evaluation and was reported to be weak with difficulty walking but with no major injuries. The Willow Wind, which had damaged sails, was left drifting at sea.

How it is being reported

• Man, 86, and his dog rescued hundreds of miles off California coast after going silent for 2 monthsA Coast Guard aircrew spotted the sailboat 460 miles off San Diego after an emergency beacon alert launched a dramatic search and rescue mission.Fox News · 3 Nov, 23:29
• Sailor, 86, and dog rescued more than 450 miles off California coast two months after vanishingThe 86-year-old mariner and his dog set sail from Astoria, Oregon, in August.Daily Mail · 3 Nov, 21:32

In this story: Astoria, Oregon · San Diego · Pago Pago · American Samoa · US Coast Guard · Scripps Mercy Hospital

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log