Sheriff's Helicopter Helps Rescue Family At Goat Rock Beach

SONOMA COUNTY - Members of a family swept into the ocean by a large wave on Goat Rock Beach were rescued Friday with the assistance of a State Parks lifeguard, the sheriff’s helicopter, and numerous responding agencies.

Police say about 3:04 p.m., the Sonoma County Sheriff’s helicopter was dispatched to Goat Rock Beach to assist a State Parks lifeguards in a rescue of several persons who had been swept out into the rough surf and now were in distress. (The sheriff’s video of the rescue can be seen here.)

Apparently, several family members visiting Goat Rock Beach were walking along the beach’s edge when a large wave struck the family members causing them to be swept out into the rough surf.

Police say another family member entered the water to help and suddenly all parties became distressed in the turbulent surf.

A State Parks lifeguard on scene entered the surf and was able to swim out to the family, stabilizing the situation until the sheriff’s helicopter arrived. Police say one of the family members was able to swim out of the rough surf and return back shore without assistance.

The Henry 1 helicopter crew landed on shore, and reconfigured the helicopter for a 100’ long-line rescue.

Police say a 100’ rescue rope was attached to the bottom of the helicopter. The pilot then hoisted a rescue officer on the end of the rope out to the lifeguard and the distress family members in the surf.

The family members and the lifeguard were secured in a a horse-collar rescue device, and the pilot flew the rescuer and the family members back into shore.

The family members were transported to local hospitals. The State Parks lifeguard was flown by Henry 1 to a Santa Rosa hospital for follow-up medical treatment as a precaution.

Deputies from the Guerneville Substation, and fire personnel from Bodega Bay Fire, CALFIRE and Monte Rio Fire helped in the rescue.

The Sheriff’s Henry 1 helicopter crew consists of a pilot, deputy sheriff/EMT and a paramedic, all trained to perform long line rescues in the ocean, on cliffs and other remote areas located along the North Coast.

(embed courtesy Kate Wilson/YouTube)