Handheld flares enabled a rescue helicopter to find and pick up stranded boaters off the Alaska coast, who were showing signs of hypothermia.
In sustained winds gusting up to 40mph and five-foot seas, the chances of seeing the boaters in Pavlof Harbor, near Tenakee Springs would have been drastically reduced without flares, says co-pilot Lt. Cody Eager.
The Coast Guard helicopter crew, a response boat crew from Station Juneau and the Coast Guard Cutter Pike were launched and an urgent marine information broadcast was issued to alert mariners in the area.
In low visibility, the Air Station Sitka crew located a man and woman stranded on a beach as they signalled the helicopter with hand-held flares. Both survivors, who showed symptoms of hypothermia were hoisted aboard and flown to awaiting emergency medical personnel in Juneau.
Lt. Cody Eager, says, “Thankfully the mariners had handheld flares that we could see through the driving rain. Without those light sources, our chances of seeing them would have been drastically reduced due to extremely poor visibility.”
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