Coast Guard Swimmer Saves Man Moments After Boat Capsizes From Massive Wave

June 4, 2024 Malorie Thompson

An impressive video is going viral that shows a rescue swimmer saving a boater just moments before his boat capsizes off the Pacific Coast.

The U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest posted about the rescue on Twitter. They said, "Talk about arriving in the nick of time! While conducting a training mission at the mouth of the Columbia River, 2 Coast Guard air crews received a #MAYDAY broadcast..."

https://twitter.com/USCGPacificNW/status/1621614076811169793

They continued, saying: "...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…"

It seems they made the right call because just as the boater was entering the water, a massive wave crashed overhead and capsized the boat entirely. The U.S. Coast Guard shared a video of the incident on Twitter and it looks bleak, but they were pleased to share that the rescue swimmer was able to recover the boater in the end.

https://twitter.com/USCGPacificNW/status/1621614095442255872

According to FOX NEWS, the individual who was rescued was later identified as a fugitive from Canada, 35-year-old Jericho Labonte who stole the boat that was capsized. He's also wanted in Oregon for crimes related to the famous Goonies House.

https://twitter.com/USCGPacificNW/status/1621614111598731265

According to the Victorian Police in Canada, Labonte was detained by U.S. police and is currently in custody.

Malorie Thompson

Malorie works as a writer and editor in Northern California. She's passionate about food, conscious living, animal welfare, and conservation. She's worked with a variety of publications in different sectors but is happiest covering topics close to her heart. When not at her laptop, Malorie can be found enjoying picnics on the beach, hiking in the redwoods, and spending time with her rescue pup, Jax.

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