Ep 9. SAR On The Rocks

In Coast Guard Cape Disappointment/Pacific Northwest Season 1 Episode 9, we witness the brave search and rescue (SAR) missions of the United States Coast Guard in the treacherous waters of the Pacific Northwest. This episode is aptly named SAR On The Rocks, as it chronicles a particularly challenging operation where the Coast Guard must respond to a stranded vessel stuck in the rocky waters, with two people on board.

The episode opens with the Coast Guard team receiving a distress signal from a boat that ran aground near the mouth of the Columbia River. The boat is stranded amidst the rocks, and is in immediate danger of capsizing. The Coast Guard immediately dispatches a team for the rescue mission, which includes a helicopter team and a rescue swimmer. The helicopter team will hoist the stranded passengers off the vessel, while the rescue swimmer will jump from the chopper and swim to the stranded boat to help guide the passengers to safety.

As the helicopter team approaches the site of the stranded vessel, they notice the extremely challenging conditions they must operate in. The winds are high, the waves are towering, and the boat is surrounded by jagged rocks. The only way the rescue team can attempt the mission is by hovering the helicopter close to the boat, which is a risky maneuver. The rescue swimmer, Petty Officer 3rd Class Trevor Haas, takes the life raft, and jumps from the helicopter into the water.

Haas swims towards the boat and reaches the couple on board. The passengers are visibly shaken, and scared. They are cold, wet and disoriented, and it is unclear if they are injured. Haas quickly assesses the situation and guides them to the life raft. He is an experienced rescue swimmer, and his calm demeanor has a soothing effect on the stranded couple, who are now feeling a sliver of hope that they may make it out alive.

Meanwhile, the helicopter pilot has to contend with extreme winds and waves, which are making it very difficult for him to stabilize the helicopter, which is hovering precariously close to the boat. The waves are over 20 feet high, and the chopper is buffeted around like a leaf in a storm. The crew must stay alert for any sudden drops or surges in the waves, which could cause the helicopter to plummet into the water. But they are determined and focused, and they are not going to let the situation get the better of them.

Haas helps the stranded couple onto the life raft and remains in the water beside them to provide support. The helicopter crew then attempts to lift all three of them up into the helicopter by hoisting them up via a line. However, the wind conditions are making it extremely difficult, and the crew is forced to abort the rescue attempt.

The crew, including the pilot and co-pilot, regroup and quickly recalibrate their plan of action. They will now attempt to hoist the stranded passengers and Haas separately, which would reduce the weight load on the hoist and make it more manageable. The crew and the helicopter reposition and try again. This time, they are able to hoist the passengers and the rescuer separately, and safely bring them into the helicopter.

The passengers are then quickly sent to receive medical attention, and Haas goes for a debriefing with his commanding officer. The rescue mission is complete, and the Coast Guard team is relieved that they were able to evacuate the vessel safely.

SAR On The Rocks is a compelling and heartwarming episode that highlights the courageous work of the Coast Guard in saving lives on the edge of danger. Despite the daunting challenges they face, the Coast Guard team is always prepared to take on the toughest of missions, and they do so with professionalism, bravery, and skill.