These are dramatic scenes that can be seen on a video recently released by the U.S. Coast Guard. A sailing yacht can be seen in the spotlight, apparently stranded. High waves are repeatedly pushing the hull onto the rocks. The sails are torn and flapping wildly. In another scene, a lifeguard can be seen abseiling down to the deck of the stranded boat. Then the video ends.
Drifted onto the shore unable to manoeuvre
More details about the marine casualty off the coast of Sucia Island, south of Vancouver, will not be available until a statement from the US Coast Guard emerged. According to the report, the rescue team received a distress call by radio at around 7 pm. The skipper informed them that their boat was unable to manoeuvre and was drifting towards the coast. According to the weather report, the conditions at the time were difficult: it was snowing and the wind was blowing onshore at around six Beaufort with waves of one to two metres. When the lifeboat and helicopter arrived at the scene, the boat had already run aground and the mast had broken.
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Husband survived, wife died later
A lifeguard abseiled down to the deck of the stricken boat. The 56-year-old skipper was then pulled into the coastguard helicopter, according to the authorities. The woman was no longer on board at the time, but was some distance away in the water. The crew of the lifeboat took the already unconscious woman on board and immediately began resuscitation measures. Shortly afterwards, she was flown by helicopter to a hospital, where she was finally pronounced dead.
