On Friday, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Helicopter STARR 3 responded to a reported water rescue off of the Pinole shoreline around 9:00 pm. Initial reports were of a person who entered the water to retrieve their dog and then could not return to shore and was yelling for help.
STARR3 was on the initial dispatch and relayed to responding unit of a 5-7 minute ETA to the scene from the Buchannan Airport.
Upon arrival of the incident, the victim was quickly located using FLIR and search light approximately 300-400 yards from the shore line with his dog and appeared to be struggling to swim back to shore. STARR performed a close in approach and hover 15’-20’ above the victim and a flotation device was deployed by the Flight Rescue Tech/Fire Captain from the exterior skids of the aircraft.
Due to night time rescue insertions restrictions, a swimmer was not deployed but the victim was able to retrieve the flotation device and began to self-rescue back to the shore line. STARR took an overhead position and continued to use the search light to aid the victim to the shore line.
STARR assisted the on scene Incident Commander with coordination of other responding water and air resources
Information provided by Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
