The crew of USACE YAQUINA saved a woman who had been swept into the Columbia River on Aug. 24.
“YAQUINA responded to a person in the water struggling to stay afloat and crying for help,” reported Captain Jane E. Favors.
“The crew deployed the fast rescue boat, pulled the victim out of the water, and provided medical assistance.”
The victim was hypothermic: her skin was pale, her lips were blue, she was stuttering, and struggling to communicate.
She said she had been swept into the water while walking on a sand bar.
When asked how long she had been in the water, she responded, “a very long time.”
After providing care and coordinating with the Coast Guard and 911, the crew carried her onto the launch and transported her to Steamboat Landing Park Boat Dock in Washougal, Wash., where she was transferred to an ambulance.
The captain provided the following timeline:
13:59 – Boatswain Brian Marshall and AB deckhand/mechanic Tanner Ensworth were standing at the launch davit control station on deck when they heard a faint yell, and then a more discernible “help” coming from the water.
They spotted a person who was being swept down river by strong wind and currents approximately a quarter mile from the ship.
Marshall reported to the bridge that there was a man overboard off YAQUINA’s STBD quarter. The captain was on the bridge and confirmed the sighting.
14:00 – Bridge watch team rings MOB on the general alarm, ship’s whistle, and ship’s corps radio.
All personnel report to their MOB station bill assignments. Fast rescue boat prepared for launch.
“Two minutes later, fast rescue boat is away with small craft operator/coxswain Craig Wilson and deckhand Tanner Ensworth,” Favors said.
“Ship’s crew on the golf course deck kept a visual on the person in the water and directed the rescue boat to position.”
At 14:05, Wilson pulled the woman into the boat, where she was covered in blankets.
At 14:08, the rescue boat was back onboard, and the victim had been carried to the ship’s hospital, where care for hypothermia was started.
At 14:45, the victim was carried to the launch, which was crewed by Ensworth, Wilson, third mate Aslyn Fisher, chief steward Faith St. John, and electronics tech Brian Campbell.
At 15:00, the launch arrived at the dock, where EMTs and the Coast Guard were waiting.
By 15:28, the launch was back onboard, and the vessel continued normal operations.
Every member of the crew was key to the success of the rescue, the captain said. Besides those listed above, they include:
— Assistant/Acting Master Erich Krueck;
— 2M Michael Morrisey, who served as on-scene leader, led the medical assessment, and dealt with GW;
— 3M Bridge Team Austin Wittman, conning officer during rescue;
— 2M Bridge Team Chris Ochs, lookout, communications and assist conning officer during rescue;
— 3M Logan Conlan, lookout, spotting victim and tracking until rescue boat pick-up; and
— the entire engineering department, led by chief engineer Eric Risheim, 1st AE Tom Martincello, 2nd AE Michael Lange, 3rd AE Matt Carlsen, MERO Jake Moreland, and chief electrician Keith Ashby.
Cook Samantha Orem provided medical assistance to the victim.
“The entire crew was part of this rescue, and they all deserve acknowledgment for their efforts,” Favors said. “The response by all hands was outstanding.”
“Kudos to the YAQUINA team for saving a human life,” said MM&P Federal Employees Membership Group Representative Randi Ciszewski.
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