Coast Guard rescues wanted man seconds before massive wave capsizes boat
The Coast Guard pulled a man into the mouth of the Columbia River in Washington just moments before his boat was capsized by a wave, before airlifting the man to safety. The man was wanted in connection with an incident in Astoria, Oregon. (U.S. Coast Guard)
Members of the U.S. Coast Guard rescued a man from the mouth of the Columbia River on Friday after the yacht he was on was rolled by a massive wave.
Police had been looking for 35-year-old Jericho Labonte since Wednesday after authorities said he left a dead fish at the Astoria, Oregon, home featured in the in 1985 classic film, "The Goonies."
According to Astoria Police Chief Stacy Kelly, an acquaintance alerted the authorities to a video he posted on social media of himself leaving the fish at the house and then dancing around the property. It is believed that the fish was caught locally because a person reported having taken him fishing.
Kelly explained that Labonte, of Victoria, British Columbia, is also wanted in British Columbia on criminal harassment, mischief and failure to comply cases from last fall.
Videos and images posted to the Coast Guard's social media accounts showed the daring rescue, during which the agency said two Coast Guard air crews had received a mayday broadcast from the P/C Sandpiper. Petty Officer Michael Clark said the call came in at around 10 a.m. local time.
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FILE - The house featured in the Steven Spielberg film "The Goonies" is viewed in Astoria, Oregon, May 24, 2001. (AP Photo/Stepanie Firth, File)
"After notifying watchstanders at Sector Columbia River who launched motor life boats from STA Cape Disappointment, the air crews arrived on scene to find the vessel floundering in the surf! The surf made rescue by boat dangerous, so the aircrew decided to lower the rescue swimmer and have the owner enter the water for rescue," the Coast Guard in the Pacific Northwest tweeted.
In this photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer reaches a boat right before a giant wave rolled the craft at the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023. The newly minted Coast Guard rescue swimmer saved the life of a man who was piloting the yacht. (AET1 Kyle Turcotte/U.S Coast Guard Pacific Northwest via AP)
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In this photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest, a Coast Guard ship, left, attempts to a rescue a distressed yacht at the mouth of the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington state on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023. (AET1 Kyle Turcotte/U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest via AP)
As Labonte entered the water, the vessel capsized, but the rescue swimmer – Petty Officer 1st Class Branch Walton, of Greenville, South Carolina – was able to safely recover him. After the incident, he was flown back to Coast Guard Base Astoria where EMS was waiting to evaluate and treat him for mild hypothermia.
In this photo provided by the U.S Coast Guard Pacific Northwest, Coast Guard personnel help carry a swimmer from a rescue helicopter after he was rescued from the mouth of the Columbia River after his boat was capsized by a giant wave on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, at Coast Guard Base Astoria, Oregon. (AET1 Kyle Turcotte/U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest via AP)
Labonte was transported to a hospital, and the facility had already released Labonte when they saw the videos and photos from the Coast Guard. Police were still looking for Labonte on Friday night and the yacht's owner reported the vessel stolen on Friday.
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"It’s been a really odd 48 hours," Kelly said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
