At 1:00 pm Friday, the US. Coast Guard and East Contra Costa Firefighters responded to a report of two people in the water after their vessel overturned near Big Break Marina in Oakley.
On a moment’s notice, Oakley’s Chris Lauritzen made his boat available to respond as he guided two East Contra Costa County Firefighters and AMR out onto the Delta to meet up with the US Coast Guard to join in the rescue.
After about 20-minutes time, the adult and 11-year-old boy were located and rescued without injury. Both were wearing life jackets. It was later learned that their dog was also on the kayak when it overturned.
The Coast Guard then located the dog after a search and was soon reunited with its owners when Lauritzen took the family back onto the Delta with the Contra Costa County Sheriffs Office, Marine Patrol.
Editors Note – Lauritzen was called because last week, the Sheriffs Office moved its Marine Patrol Unit off the water to assist on the streets. The closest available boat firefighter boat was at the Pittsburg Harbor after ECCFPD Board voted to give up their boat to CONFIRE.
Here is the release from the US Coast Guard on the incident:
Coast Guard, partners, good Samaritan rescue family in Oakley
SAN FRANCISCO — The crews of Coast Guard Station Rio Vista, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Marine Patrol unit and a maritime good Samaritan, Bodega Bell, rescued one adult, one child and a dog from an overturned vessel near Big Break Marina in Oakley Friday afternoon.
The call for assistance came in to the Contra Costa dispatch center that was subsequently transferred to the Coast Guard Sector San Francisco Command Center. A request to nearby mariners was released and Bodega Bell responded in the team effort to locate and rescue the father, son and dog.
The man and child were both wearing life jackets, which greatly increased their chances of survival and the likelihood of first responders locating them. Despite not having a marine radio, the most reliable means of maritime distress communication, they did have a cell phone, which played a critical role in locating the two individuals along with their dog.
“This case was perfectly executed,” said Chief Petty Officer Jason P. Miller, officer in charge, Coast Guard Station Rio Vista. “There was a quick response by Station Rio Vista, Contra Costa County’s Marine unit and the good Samaritan. Station Rio Vista’s Officer of the Day kept the 11-year-old boy, who was in the water, calm and was able to get great information which allowed the response and rescue boats to locate him and his father quickly. The response was made more effective due to the young man’s ability to remain calm under a stressful situation. The coordination with the Contra Costa County units was excellent. We could not have asked for a better-executed rescue.”
