The Coast Guard has not released the identities of the missing individuals. The Illinois Valley News, out of respect to the family and our community will follow suit.
PORTLAND, Ore. — The U.S. Coast Guard suspended a search Monday for two men lost in the ocean off Gold Beach in southern Oregon after their boat capsized Sunday night.
Around 9 p.m. Sunday night, watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River received a report from 911 dispatch that a 26-foot motorized catamaran had overturned about four miles off the coast of Gold Beach.
According to the Coast Guard, there were three people aboard the catamaran when it overturned, and that all three had reportedly put on life jackets before they capsized. One person was found and rescued by a good Samaritan, who took them to shore for medical evaluation.
With two men still missing, the Coast Guard launched a 47-foot motor lifeboat and 29-foot response boat from Station Chetco River, as well as an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station North Bend. A two-person jet ski team out of Gold Beach helped with the search, and crews from Humboldt Bay, California arrived to aid the search around 4 a.m.
The Coast Guard said that winds were between 18 and 20 knots during the search, with waves of 4-6 feet. The air was 57 degrees, and the water 55 degrees.
Search and rescue tracklines that the Coast Guard used during a search for two men that were aboard a capsized catamaran off the coast of Gold Beach.
The two men were not located overnight, and a Dolphin crew continued to search Monday morning without any luck. All told, USCG said, crews searched 130 track-line miles — covering over 75 square nautical miles.
“This is a very tragic situation,” said Master Chief Petty Officer Carlos Hessler, officer in charge of Station Chetco River. “Anytime there is a vessel in distress, we do everything we can to help those in need. Our hearts are with the boaters and their families during this difficult time.”