Coast Guard: OAKLAND SAR - 12 people rescued

Coast Guard - SF Bay area SAR

ALAMEDA, Calif. - Twelve people were rescued from the water near Oakland Airport late after their canoes had been swamped by heavy swells.

The Coast Guard received a report of two overdue 45-foot canoes with six people on each boat during a canoe trip from the San Leandro Marina to the Oakland Airport. The Coast Guard received confirmation of twelve people in distress.

The Coast Guard launched a rescue boat from Station San Francisco and launched an MH-65 rescue helicopter from Air Station San Francisco and also issued an urgent marine information broadcast. The person reporting also responded with his 17-foot skiff. When the Coast Guard helicopter crew arrived on scene, they found twelve people clingling to pilings. All tweleve people in the water were wearing lifejackets.

The rescue swimmer from the helicopter was sent into the water to start rescue efforts. The man driving the 17-foot skiff was also on scene and he teamed with the rescue swimmer in pulling 11 people out of the water and transporting them to nearby land in the vicinity of the Oakland Airport. The helicopter rescue crew hoisted one person from the water and transported him to the airport where he was treated for hypothermia by Oakland Fire Department personnel.

The twelve canoers are from the Out-riggers Canoe Club based out of the San Leandro Marina.

The Coast Guard reminds boaters to file a float plan so that any deviance can be quickly reported and responded to, as demonstrated in this case. Wearing lifejackets also significantly contributed to the successful rescue of all twelve people.