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Terrifying video shows dramatic ocean rescue as wave flips yacht.

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The U.S. Coast Guard has shared footage of a dramatic water rescue on Friday at the mouth of the Columbia river near Astoria, Oregon, in a story that just kept getting more strange.

In the video shot from a helicopter, a man can be seen standing on the edge of a 35-foot yacht in rough surf. A rescue swimmer, who had been lowered into the water by a cable, approaches the vessel, just as a large wave slams into it, toppling it and throwing the man onboard into the water.

The swimmer was able to pull him to safety. The helicopter flew him to the Coast Guard base in Astoria, where he was treated for mild hypothermia and was briefly hospitalized.

(1/4) #BreakingNews - 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 from the master of the P/C Sandpiper. After notifying watchstanders at Sector Columbia River pic.twitter.com/CtYSgpdPUG — USCGPacificNorthwest (@USCGPacificNW) February 3, 2023

(2/4)…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… pic.twitter.com/z92WvzpTG9 — USCGPacificNorthwest (@USCGPacificNW) February 3, 2023

In a bizarre twist, the man, later identified as 35-year-old Jericho Labonte of Victoria, British Columbia, turned out to be wanted by police for allegedly leaving a dead fish at the Astoria home featured in the 1985 film, “The Goonies,” according to the Associated Press .

Astoria police had been looking for him since Wednesday, when an acquaintance notified them of a video Labonte posted on social media showing himself leaving the fish at the property and dancing around.

The yacht’s owner, a resident of Warrenton, Oregon, reported the boat stolen later on Friday.

Labonte was arrested Friday night at a homeless shelter in Seaside, about 17 miles south of Astoria, on charges of theft, criminal mischief, endangering another person and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Seaside police told AP he was also wanted for other cases in Canada.

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New coast guard swimmer saves man’s life after wave rolls yacht.

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ASTORIA, Ore. — A newly minted Coast Guard rescue swimmer saved a man’s life Friday at the mouth of the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington state just after a giant wave rolled the yacht he was piloting and threw him into the surf.

Video from a Coast Guard helicopter  captured part of the dramatic save. Petty Officer Michael Clark says the agency received a mayday call at about 10 a.m., with no additional information.

The agency was able to triangulate roughly where the call was coming from, and Coast Guard crews on vessels and in a helicopter who happened to be training nearby responded. They found the 35-feet (11-meter) yacht, the P/C Sandpiper, taking on water in 20-foot (6-meter) seas — meaning the height of a wave from the previous trough could be as much as 40 feet (12 meters), Clark said.

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The rescue swimmer — who was on his first rescue just after graduating from the Coast Guard’s rescue swimmer program — was lowered from the helicopter by a cable. As he neared the vessel, the man on board climbed onto the stern, preparing to get into the water.

But just then a huge wave slammed the boat, throwing him into the surf. The wave struck so violently that the vessel rolled completely over and wound up floating upright.

The swimmer managed to locate the man in the surf and pulled him to safety aboard the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter. The crew brought him to Coast Guard Base Astoria, where medics treated him for mild hypothermia.

“It’s a bit of a christening for a new rescue swimmer,” Clark said.

The swimmer’s name was not immediately released, nor was that of the man who was rescued.

The mouth of the Columbia, the largest North American river that flows into the Pacific Ocean, has such notoriously rough seas that it is known as “the graveyard of the Pacific.”

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Caught On Camera: Huge Wave Flips Yacht During A Dramatic Rescue in US

The video shows the rescue swimmer battling strong waves and saving the man onboard..

The boat was about six miles (10km) from land

A terrifying video has surfaced on the internet which shows a monster wave flipping and rolling a yacht off the Pacific coast in the US. The video shows a coastguard attempting to rescue a man onboard when a giant wave overturned a boat, BBC reported.

A rescue swimmer was seen attempting to reach the yacht. The Independent reported that he was deployed to the water using a winch cable, but as he approached, a breaking wave capsized the vessel, throwing the man in. The video shows the rescue swimmer battling strong waves and saving the man onboard who was then taken to a nearby hospital.

USCG Pacific Northwest originally shared the video on Twitter. "Talk about arriving in the nick of time! While conducting a training mission at the mouth of the Columbia River, 2 Coast Guard aircrews received a #MAYDAY broadcast from the master of the P/C Sandpiper," the caption read.

"After notifying watchstanders at Sector Columbia River who launched motor lifeboats from STA Cape Disappointment, the aircrews 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 As he entered the water the vessel capsized but the rescue swimmer was able to safely recover the individual. He was flown back to Coast Guard Base Astoria where EMS was waiting to evaluate and treat the man," it added.

Watch the video here:

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(2/4)…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… pic.twitter.com/z92WvzpTG9 — USCGPacificNorthwest (@USCGPacificNW) February 3, 2023

The boat was about six miles (10km) from land, at the mouth of the Columbia River in the northwest of the country, according to BBC.

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CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Coast Guard makes dramatic rescue as wave rolls yacht

Scroll down to watch the full video.

Associated Press

ASTORIA, Ore. – A man who was saved by a Coast Guard rescue swimmer at the mouth of the Columbia River as a massive wave rolled the yacht he was piloting Friday was wanted for a bizarre incident in which police said he left a dead fish at the Astoria, Oregon, home featured in the classic 1985 film, “The Goonies.”

Officers had been looking for the man since Wednesday, when an acquaintance alerted them to a video he posted on social media of himself leaving the fish at the house and then dancing around the property, Astoria Police Chief Stacy Kelly said.

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Kelly identified the man as Jericho Labonte, 35, of Victoria, British Columbia. Labonte is also wanted in British Columbia on criminal harassment, mischief and failure to comply cases from last fall, Kelly said.

Early Friday afternoon, the Coast Guard shared stunning video of a rescue made a few hours earlier in which a newly minted rescue swimmer lowered by cable from a helicopter swam to a 35-foot (11-meter) yacht that was struggling in heavy surf. As the swimmer approached the vessel, a large wave slammed into it, rolling the boat over and throwing a man, later identified as Labonte, into the water.

The swimmer, Petty Officer 1st Class Branch Walton, of Greenville, South Carolina, reached Labonte and pulled him to safety. The helicopter crew flew him to Coast Guard Base Astoria, where medics treated him for mild hypothermia and transported him to a hospital.

The yacht's owner, who lives in nearby Warrenton, Oregon, reported the vessel stolen later Friday, the police chief said.

The hospital had already released Labonte when police saw the Coast Guard photos and video and realized it was the same person who they said covered over security cameras at the Goonies house and left the dead fish on the porch.

Police were still looking for Labonte Friday evening.

Kelly didn't know what kind of fish it was, but said police believed it was caught locally because after the video started circulating another person reported having taken Labonte fishing.

“It's been a really odd 48 hours,” Kelly said.

The mouth of the Columbia, the largest North American river flowing into the Pacific Ocean, is known as “the graveyard of the Pacific" for its notoriously rough seas. The Coast Guard received the yacht's mayday call around 10 a.m. Friday while conducting trainings nearby, Petty Officer Michael Clark said.

The mayday contained no information about location or the specific problem, but the agency roughly triangulated the vessel's location and nearby boat crews and a helicopter responded.

They found the P/C Sandpiper yacht taking on water in 20-foot (6-meter) seas, meaning the height of a wave from the previous trough could be as much as 40 feet (12 meters), Clark said.

Walton, who only recently graduated from the Coast Guard's rescue swimmer program, was lowered from the helicopter by a cable. Labonte climbed onto the stern and prepared to enter the water just as a huge wave slammed the craft, throwing him into the surf. The wave struck so violently that the vessel rolled completely over and wound up floating upright.

Walton said in an interview Friday that he planned to reach the man, get him in the water and hook him to a cable attached to the helicopter. Instead, the wave hit.

“I kind of got thrown around a little bit by the wave. When I came up I noticed the boat was pretty much in shambles," Walton said.

He directed the helicopter to bring him to Labonte after spotting him in the surf a short distance away. The force of the wave had mostly knocked off his life jacket, Walton said.

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Man rescued by Coast Guard wanted in 'Goonies' fish incident

SEATTLE (AP) — A man who was saved by a Coast Guard rescue swimmer at the mouth of the Columbia River as a massive wave rolled the yacht he was piloting Friday was wanted for a bizarre incident in which police said he left a dead fish at the Astoria, Oregon, home featured in the classic 1985 film, “The Goonies.”

Officers had been looking for the man since Wednesday, when an acquaintance alerted them to a video he posted on social media of himself leaving the fish at the house and then dancing around the property, Astoria Police Chief Stacy Kelly said.

Kelly identified the man as Jericho Labonte, 35, of Victoria, British Columbia. Labonte is also wanted in British Columbia on criminal harassment, mischief and failure to comply cases from last fall, Kelly said.

Early Friday afternoon, the Coast Guard shared stunning video of a rescue made a few hours earlier in which a newly minted rescue swimmer lowered by cable from a helicopter swam to a 35-foot (11-meter) yacht that was struggling in heavy surf. As the swimmer approached the vessel, a large wave slammed into it, rolling the boat over and throwing a man, later identified as Labonte, into the water.

The swimmer, Petty Officer 1st Class Branch Walton, of Greenville, South Carolina, reached Labonte and pulled him to safety. The helicopter crew flew him to Coast Guard Base Astoria, where medics treated him for mild hypothermia and transported him to a hospital.

The yacht's owner, who lives in nearby Warrenton, Oregon, reported the vessel stolen later Friday, the police chief said.

The hospital had already released Labonte when police saw the Coast Guard photos and video and realized it was the same person who they said covered over security cameras at the Goonies house and left the dead fish on the porch.

Police were still looking for Labonte Friday evening.

Kelly didn't know what kind of fish it was, but said police believed it was caught locally because after the video started circulating another person reported having taken Labonte fishing.

“It's been a really odd 48 hours,” Kelly said.

The mouth of the Columbia, the largest North American river flowing into the Pacific Ocean, is known as “the graveyard of the Pacific" for its notoriously rough seas. The Coast Guard received the yacht's mayday call around 10 a.m. Friday while conducting trainings nearby, Petty Officer Michael Clark said.

The mayday contained no information about location or the specific problem, but the agency roughly triangulated the vessel's location and nearby boat crews and a helicopter responded.

They found the P/C Sandpiper yacht taking on water in 20-foot (6-meter) seas, meaning the height of a wave from the previous trough could be as much as 40 feet (12 meters), Clark said.

Walton, who only recently graduated from the Coast Guard's rescue swimmer program, was lowered from the helicopter by a cable. Labonte climbed onto the stern and prepared to enter the water just as a huge wave slammed the craft, throwing him into the surf. The wave struck so violently that the vessel rolled completely over and wound up floating upright.

Walton said in an interview Friday that he planned to reach the man, get him in the water and hook him to a cable attached to the helicopter. Instead, the wave hit.

“I kind of got thrown around a little bit by the wave. When I came up I noticed the boat was pretty much in shambles," Walton said.

He directed the helicopter to bring him to Labonte after spotting him in the surf a short distance away. The force of the wave had mostly knocked off his life jacket, Walton said.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Watch CBS News

Investigators: Doomed boat on Hudson River was likely overloaded

• https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/live-updates/officials-12-rescued-after-boat-capsizes-in-hudson-river/ link copied

By Jessica Moore

Updated on: July 13, 2022 / 6:23 PM EDT / CBS New York

NEW YORK  -- There is new information on what caused that boat to capsize on the Hudson River on Tuesday.

Investigators believe the boat was overloaded and they now say the owner and operator could possibly face criminal charges, CBS2's Jessica Moore reported Wednesday.

Exclusive video shows the jet-powered boat navigating the choppy waters of the Hudson on what was a windy afternoon, with no other boats nearby.

There is a spray of water and then the boat capsizes.

Investigators say 13 Colombian tourists were onboard the 24-foot vessel that was designed to seat only 12, and that one of the two people who died, 7-year-old Julian Vasquez was wearing a life vest, as required. However, in a tragic twist, the vest apparently got caught on debris when the boat flipped over, preventing the little boy from floating to the top.

Investigators are uncertain whether the other victim, 47-year-old Lindelia Vasquez, was wearing a life vest, but say she was also found trapped underneath the vessel.

Henry Kaden filmed the incident from his apartment in Union City, New Jersey.

"When I started to hear the news reports about the injuries and especially when I heard a kid died, I'm still not right about that. It just really hurts and I'm wondering if it could've been prevented," Kaden said.

Police sources told CBS2 the owner of the boat and and another man who was operating the vessel are not off the hook criminally. Investigators are looking into the culpability of the owner, who was trailing the boat on a Jet Ski and rented out the craft for the charter. Police sources also said they could face charges of violating maritime law and/or reckless endangerment.

Questions remain about what type of license the boat's captain had, whether it was a charter license, which is required for taking six or more people out on the water.

That man is still in the hospital, along with two other passengers pulled from the river.

Check below for the latest updates. 

Neighbors, friends grieve loss of Lindelia and Julián Vasquez

We are learning more about the woman and child who died when a boat capsized in the Hudson on Tuesday.

As CBS2's Thalia Perez reports, it was supposed to be a fun, family day out before things turned tragic.

Click here to read more .

• https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/live-updates/officials-12-rescued-after-boat-capsizes-in-hudson-river/#post-update-19acf83a link copied

Victims' names released

We now know the names of the two people who were killed in the incident. 

The NYPD identified them as 7-year-old Julian Vasquez and 47-year-old Lindelia Vasquez.

Sources told CBS2 the people on the boat were tourists from Colombia who were staying at a hotel in Elizabeth, New Jersey. 

• https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/live-updates/officials-12-rescued-after-boat-capsizes-in-hudson-river/#post-update-8f9f6ac6 link copied

CBS2 obtains exclusive video of boat capsizing

There is new video of the moment the boat capsized on the Hudson River on Tuesday.

CBS2's Alice Gainer was at the Pier 78 ferry terminal, where those who were rescued were brought.

The boat and a Jet Ski were just cruising along the water before the vessel flipped.

In addition to the NYPD and FDNY heroes, Gainer also spoke with two NY Waterway ferry captains who sprang into action and were first on scene to help.

On video taken from Weehawken, New Jersey, and obtained exclusively by CBS2, the boat and the Jet Ski are seen side by side. There's a spray of water and the boat flips.

"We noticed a Jet Skier flying around. At first, we thought it was another Jet Skier capsized, saw a few people, then saw more," said Jason Peters, the captain of the NY Water ferry John Stevens. "They were waving for help, for us to come over. 'Help! Help!'"

Peters was on his normal route when his crew changed course and went over to assist.

"We got eight people out the water ... They were hanging onto it. Others were in the water. We started throwing life jackets, life rings, just to get them out the water," Peters said.

Another NY Waterway ferry, Garden State, also came to help.

"I had my deckhands immediately deploy a Jason's cradle, get a boat hook, get the life jackets on," Capt. Anthony Ryan said. "They weren't really trying to get out of the water. They were panicked."

The crew remained calm and focused.

"We got right into action. The training of NY Waterway kicked in right away," one crew member said.

In his nearly 20 years as a ferry captain, Peters said he has been no stranger to saving lives on the river.

"'Miracle on the Hudson,' so pretty much similar situation, almost the same spot," Peters said.

Ryan said he assisted on 9/11 and noted his crew is constantly drilling and ready for rescues.

"There's a lot going on. You get nervous. You get stressed. You don't want to see anybody get hurt. Things happen fast," Ryan said.

• https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/live-updates/officials-12-rescued-after-boat-capsizes-in-hudson-river/#post-update-acbb69c8 link copied

Latest on the investigation

Tragedy on the Hudson.

Two people lost their lives, including a 7-year-old boy, when a boat capsized on the river on Tuesday afternoon. Nine others were rescued. The group on board consisted of tourists from Colombia who were staying in Elizabeth, New Jersey, CBS2's Kevin Rincon reported

Officials said the boat overturned near 44th Street. It was taken to Christopher Street, more than two miles down the river. The jet boat is about 12 to 14 feet in length, and had at least a dozen people on board, and now we know, sadly, at least two people got trapped underneath.

Video shows several people waiting to be rescued sitting atop the overturned boat, some wearing life jackets, others just in their bathing suits.

On land, people watched as first responders tried their best to avoid any casualties.

Unfortunately, police say a 7-year-old boy was found dead trapped underneath, along with a 47-year-old woman. They were pulled out by SCUBA divers with both the NYPD and FDNY.

"The individual that I found, the small one that I found, was wearing a life vest. Obviously, any time it's a child, it changes maybe your emotional state, but you just have a job to do and you do it," said Ryan Warnock of Rescue Company 1.

As the chaotic scene unfolded in the water, Henry Kaden could only watch from his apartment in Union City.

"I was shocked to see people on an overturned boat," Kaden said.

He said he noticed something went wrong when several boats flocked to the area.

"Luckily, the ferries were right there. They helped save a lot of people," Kaden said.

From his vantage point, Kaden has seen countless things on the river, including the "Miracle on the Hudson." That's why he had his camera handy.

Plenty of focus was on the boat as it was taken out of the water with the help of a crane provided by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Investigators believe the boat capsized when it hit a wave caused by a passing ferry. Weight may have been an issue, as there were 12 people on board.

Two remain in critical condition, including the captain, who was licensed.

"It was chartered by family and friends, and it was owned by an individual who was actually on a Jet Ski following the boat," NYPD Assistant Chief James McCarthy said.

Nine of those family members and friends were rescued. Most were seen walking away in towels, understandably upset at the chaos that unfolded.

"This is a devastating moment for them and those who were part of the families that were there," Mayor Eric Adams said.

The mayor said the accident is a reminder of the dangers associated with our waterways, as they often become a pleasant escape, especially during the summer for so many New Yorkers.

• https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/live-updates/officials-12-rescued-after-boat-capsizes-in-hudson-river/#post-update-8e429766 link copied

NY Waterway captain speaks out after Hudson River rescue

Two people died including a child after a boat capsized on Tuesday afternoon. A captain involved in the rescue effort spoke out after the incident.

• https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/live-updates/officials-12-rescued-after-boat-capsizes-in-hudson-river/#post-update-a8541646 link copied

Watch: Coast Guard discusses Hudson River rescue effort

Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Dave Ruglig spoke about the Hudson River rescue effort following Tuesday afternoon's incident.

Ruglig is the managing officer of the crew that responded after the boat capsized. He spoke with CBS2's Maurice DuBois and Kristine Johnson.

• https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/live-updates/officials-12-rescued-after-boat-capsizes-in-hudson-river/#post-update-7e698dfa link copied

Officials: 2 critical among others rescued

FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said the woman who died in Tuesday's incident in Lower Manhattan was 50 years old, and added two of the 11 other people pulled from the water are in critical condition.

In addition, one victim is in critical but stable condition and eight others are stable, Kavanagh added.

• https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/live-updates/officials-12-rescued-after-boat-capsizes-in-hudson-river/#post-update-ff9ee62f link copied

NYPD Commissioner Sewell: "This is a tragic day for New Yorkers"

At a news conference on Tuesday evening, NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell announced the deaths of a woman and a 7-year-old boy following the capsizing of a boat in the waters off Lower Manhattan.

Sewell said the incident happened at around 2:45 p.m., adding a 911 call was received for an overturned vessel by The Battery.

"The NYPD and FDNY immediately deployed resources to the area. NYPD Harbor Patrol arrived at Pier 86 at West 46th Street where they observed a capsized vessel," Sewell said. "Two victims were rescued by Harbor. They were drifting near the boat. The NYPD SCUBA immediately deployed divers into the water. A female was brought to surface and into the boat. She was unresponsive. Without delay, FDNY Marine divers also entered the water and pulled out a male, 7 years old. He was also unresponsive. Unfortunately, both of those individuals have been pronounced deceased."

Sewell went on to say, "This is a tragic day for New Yorkers. Indeed, it may have well been worse were it not for the incredible effort by not only our own extraordinary first responders but also the swift response from New York Waterway ferries who rescued nine additional people from the water." 

• https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/live-updates/officials-12-rescued-after-boat-capsizes-in-hudson-river/#post-update-aa8271a4 link copied

Watch team coverage of the rescue

• https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/live-updates/officials-12-rescued-after-boat-capsizes-in-hudson-river/#post-update-14b5c723 link copied

NY Waterway hails captains, crews who helped in rescue

We are so proud of the NY Waterway captains and crews that leapt into action today to rescue boaters following the maritime accident in the Hudson. Their training and professionalism saved lives, as they have countless times before. pic.twitter.com/dZ2I3or5aG — NY Waterway (@ridetheferry) July 12, 2022

"We are so proud of the NY Waterway captains and crews that leapt into action today to rescue boaters following the maritime accident in the Hudson. Their training and professionalism saved lives, as they have countless times before," NY Waterway posted on Twitter. 

• https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/live-updates/officials-12-rescued-after-boat-capsizes-in-hudson-river/#post-update-2e92684a link copied

Officials say 12 people rescued, 2 in critical condition

Mayor Eric Adams was on the scene after a boat capsized  in the  Hudson River . 

The incident took place around 2:45 p.m. near Pier 84 at 44th Street.   

NYPD and FDNY scuba teams rushed to respond. They say a dozen people were pulled from the water. Two people are in critical condition and have been rushed to area hospitals, authorities said. Nine injuries were said to be minor. 

At least two southbound lanes of the Henry Hudson Parkway were closed while the rescues were underway. 

Two NY Waterway ferries assisted in the rescues. NY Waterway says a private boat overturned. 

• https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/live-updates/officials-12-rescued-after-boat-capsizes-in-hudson-river/#post-update-a5759d23 link copied

Chopper 2 over the scene

Chopper 2 was over the scene shortly after the boat capsized. 

Chopper 2 Flying Chopper 2 is checking a water rescue after a boat capsized on the Hudson River. More on CBSN New York: http://cbsloc.al/cbsnnewyork Posted by CBS New York on Tuesday, July 12, 2022

• https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/live-updates/officials-12-rescued-after-boat-capsizes-in-hudson-river/#post-update-2ed54834 link copied
• Hudson River

Jessica Moore is an Emmy Award-winning anchor for the weekend evening newscasts on CBS 2 and WLNY 10/55. Moore joined the stations in July, 2016.

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A Sea Rescue, a Stolen Boat and, Yes, a ‘Goonies’ Angle

The authorities in Oregon said a capsized boat was stolen by a man who had paid a visit to a nearby house made famous in “The Goonies.” The twists continued.

By Remy Tumin

When the Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment received a mayday call from a mariner in distress Friday morning, the agency went into full-rescue mode, deploying a 47-foot lifeboat, calling the aircrew of a Jayhawk helicopter and mobilizing multiple crews of the National Motor Lifeboat School who were conducting training nearby.

It would turn out that the man who needed saving would have some explaining to do if he made it safely to land.

The 35-foot boat was taking on water six miles off the coast of Astoria, Ore., near the mouth of the Columbia River in an area known as the Columbia Bar, which is frequently referred to as the Graveyard of the Pacific and is believed among mariners to be one of the most dangerous crossings in the world.

The Coast Guard reported conditions of 20-foot seas and extremely high wind speeds as a rescue swimmer, a student of the Advanced Helicopter Rescue School, was deployed into the water using a winch cable before swimming toward the sinking boat. Just as the rescuer made his approach, a breaking wave capsized the boat, throwing the mariner overboard. The rescue swimmer reached the mariner in the water, the Coast Guard said in a statement, and both were lifted up to the helicopter and transported to land.

Hours later, the swimmer, John Walton, known as Branch, an Aviation Survival Technician Third Class, graduated from training. It was the first time he saved a life, the Coast Guard said.

The dramatic rescue was all captured on video. But the drama did not stop there.

The rescued mariner, Jericho Labonte, had stolen the boat from a nearby marina in West Mooring Basin in Astoria, according to the police. And a few days before that, he left a dead fish on the steps of the house made famous by the 1985 film “The Goonies,” which follows the fantastical adventures of a group of children following an old treasure map.

Mr. Labonte filmed himself dropping the fish off at the house, calling out the movie’s signature line of “Hey, you guys!” and posted it to Facebook.

Mr. Labonte was arrested Friday night in Seaside, Ore., about 17 miles south of Astoria, on charges of theft, endangering another person, unauthorized use of a vehicle and criminal mischief, the Astoria police said in a statement. But Mr. Labonte, who is originally from British Columbia, was also wanted by Canadian authorities on charges of mischief, criminal harassment and failure to comply, Chief Stacy Kelly of the Astoria Police Department told The New York Times on Sunday.

Chief Kelly said Mr. Labonte was in the custody of U.S. immigration officials for illegally crossing the border from Canada.

The small, commercial fishing town has never seen anything “this crazy,” the chief said. “Not one person causing so much mayhem. That’s for sure.”

Chief Kelly said it was unclear how long Mr. Labonte had been in the area, which is more than 90 miles northwest of Portland, but said the police received a phone call from a woman in Astoria alerting them to the fish video. The woman was “very concerned” to learn that Mr. Labonte was in town and “scared to death” that he was in the area, and she alerted the police to his previous criminal history.

When the Coast Guard released the video of the harrowing rescue, the head of port security for Astoria, Matt Hansen, recognized the boat and confirmed it was stolen, Chief Kelly said.

“The Columbia Bar is extremely dangerous under the best of conditions,” he said. “The fact he made it across the bar is miraculous.”

But by the time the video had been released, Mr. Labonte had left an area hospital and was at large. Another community member alerted the police when Mr. Labonte was seen at a warming center in town later that day. He was then arrested.

Chief Kelly attributed Mr. Labonte’s arrest to a large community effort.

Among the people who helped was Jeff Keightley, a charter boat captain in Astoria. Mr. Keightley took a man who called himself Philip Livingston out for a charter fishing trip on the morning of Feb. 1.

Mr. Keightley originally welcomed the off-season trip. But the man repeatedly asked Mr. Keightley to take him out to 3,000 feet, about 30 miles offshore where bottom fishing is impossible. He requested a captain’s hat and insisted on joining the commercial crabbing fleet, which were far offshore. When the man hooked a 27-inch lingcod, he was ready to go back to shore, which also surprised Mr. Keightley.

“The number of times I’ve gotten one fish and went back in — that was a new record,” Mr. Keightley said in an interview on Sunday.

When the Coast Guard video was released, Mr. Keightley’s girlfriend, Julianna Edmiston, who was a deckhand aboard the charter, recognized the man being rescued.

It was Mr. Labonte.

Mr. Keightley then realized that the gossip about a dead fish on the steps of the house in “The Goonies” was about the one caught on his boat.

“People often ask me about the weirdest thing that ever happened,” he said, recalling a time when a man was drunk during a sturgeon competition and jumped overboard. “This is way weirder.”

An earlier version of this article misidentified the location of Mr. Labonte’s arrest. It is Seaside, Ore., not Astoria, Ore.

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Two tourists killed and 16 injured after massive wave capsizes boat

Twenty-two passengers were onboard the tourist boat when it capsized near the coast of colombia on 5 march, article bookmarked.

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Two passengers were killed and 16 were injured when a tourist boat capsized at sea after being bashed by a huge wave.

The authorities said 22 passengers were onboard the tourist boat when it capsized on the morning of 5 March, Jam Press reports.

A huge wave caused the vessel to overturn, leaving passengers stranded in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, some 21 miles from the coast of Colombia.

After rescuing all the passengers from the water, the captain of the tour boat noticed there were two women missing.

The victim’s lifeless bodies were found underneath the overturned vessel minutes later.

According to reports, 16 other tourists were injured in the incident off the coast of Santa Marta, Magdalena Department, Colombia.

After the boat capsized, a boat from the Santa Marta Sports Fishing Club was passing through the waters of the Tayrona National Park at the time.

Tourists are rescued after their boat was capsized near the coast of Columbia

Crew members heard the screams of people in the sea and rushed to help fish them out of the water.

Footage shows crew members helping survivors onboard the fishing boat.

Fisherman Jader Fontalvo said: “We heard the cries for help and I immediately told the captain to move closer.

“However, our boat was not very big so we could only go up to 10 people.”

Coast Guard officials promptly arrived on the scene to help transport the other tourists to safety.

A tourist is pulled into a rescue boat after a vessel was capsized near the coast of Columbia

It was initially believed that everyone had survived the incident, but when everyone was onboard the rescue vessels, the tour boat captain realised the two women were missing.

Minutes later, their dead bodies were found underneath the overturned boat.

The mayor’s office confirmed that the other tourists were all treated at nearby medical centres and are in good general condition.

An investigation into the fatal accident is ongoing.

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Man who was saved by Coast Guard during harrowing rescue stole the yacht he was piloting, Astoria police say

• Updated: Jan. 03, 2024, 2:36 p.m. |
• Published: Feb. 03, 2023, 4:38 p.m.

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. The newly minted Coast Guard rescue swimmer saved the life of a man who was piloting the yacht. (Turcotte/U.S Coast Guard via AP) AP

• The Associated Press

A newly minted Coast Guard rescue swimmer saved a man’s life Friday at the mouth of the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington state just after a giant wave rolled the yacht he was piloting and threw him into the surf.

In an odd twist to the heroic story, Astoria police said Friday evening that the man who was rescued stole the yacht .

• Police arrest man they say left dead fish at Astoria’s ‘Goonies’ house, stole yacht and prompted harrowing Coast Guard rescue

Video from a Coast Guard helicopter captured part of the dramatic save. Petty Officer Michael Clark says the agency received a mayday call at about 10 a.m., with no additional information.

The agency was able to triangulate roughly where the call was coming from, and Coast Guard crews on vessels and in a helicopter who happened to be training nearby responded. They found the 35-feet yacht, the P/C Sandpiper, taking on water in 20-foot seas — meaning the height of a wave from the previous trough could be as much as 40 feet, Clark said.

The rescue swimmer — who was on his first rescue just after graduating from the Coast Guard’s rescue swimmer program — was lowered from the helicopter by a cable. As he neared the vessel, the man on board climbed onto the stern, preparing to get into the water.

But just then a huge wave slammed the boat, throwing him into the surf. The wave struck so violently that the vessel rolled completely over and wound up floating upright.

The swimmer managed to locate the man in the surf and pulled him to safety aboard the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter. The crew brought him to Coast Guard Base Astoria, where medics treated him for mild hypothermia.

“It’s a bit of a christening for a new rescue swimmer,” Clark said.

The swimmer’s name was not immediately released. Astoria police identified the man who was rescued as Jericho Labonte, 35. He is wanted by Canadian police and, after today’s incident, by Astoria police for allegedly stealing the yacht, said Astoria police chief Stacy Kelly.

The mouth of the Columbia, the largest North American river that flows into the Pacific Ocean, has such notoriously rough seas that it is known as “the graveyard of the Pacific.”

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 . A newly minted Coast Guard rescue swimmer saved the life of a man who was piloting the yacht. ( Kyle Turcotte/U.S. Coast Guard via AP) AP

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1 dead, 3 rescued after rogue wave capsizes skiff near Yakutat

One person died and three others survived after a skiff overturned near Yakutat on Sunday.

The search for the skiff began shortly after the Yakutat Fire Department got a call reporting a group of overdue boaters who had left earlier in the day on a fishing trip. Yakutat Police Sgt. Jesse Picard said in an interview that the boaters departed from a local lodge around 7 a.m. Sunday to go fishing near Khantaak Island. Around 9 a.m., their boat was hit by a rogue wave and overturned. They were able to climb on top of the boat but another wave flipped them back into the water. Three of the passengers swam to shore.

Picard says one of the survivors walked to the southeast side of the island where he could see Yakutat and began swimming toward town. He was later rescued from the water by good Samaritans. Crew from a nearby Allen Marine boat spotted the other two survivors on land, and were able to direct a search party to their location. Picard says one of the survivors was medevaced to Anchorage to treat non-life-threatening injuries. The other two were quickly discharged from the Yakutat Clinic. Picard did not disclose the name of the deceased, but said that the person’s next-of-kin have been notified. He says between the local fire and police departments and volunteers, over 20 people responded. Picard said all of the passengers were wearing life preservers at the time of the accident.

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Ten of the best disaster movies set at sea

Since those huge white letters were first hoisted up that hill, Hollywood has had an obsession with maritime disaster - and the new trailer for Craig Gillespie's The Finest Hours  looks to set to continue the damp craze.

The latest in a long list of danger-at-sea films, it tells the true story of the perilous 1952 rescue mission by the US Coastguard that saved dozens of lives.

Boasting impressive oceanic effects and suitably emotional dialogue, the Chris Pine-starring drama looks set to make waves at the cinema come 2016.

But The Finest Hours is just the latest in a wave (sorry) of films about beleaguered ship captains battling the elements, especially with the advent of realistic CGI giving directors the ability to cook up the perfect storm.

So how does it contend with the others? Let's have a look...

The Perfect Storm

Storm movies don't get more perfect than this. Based upon real events that saw the loss of a fishing boat and its entire crew in the so-called 'Perfect Storm' of 1991, this film doesn't pull any punches with its depiction of the crew's hopeless last hours inside the hurricane. 

Worth watching alone for that shot of the film's climactic wave.

Not a disaster movie  per se , but  Life of Pi 's defining moment is certainly the breathtaking shipwreck that sees the titular orphan stranded at sea with nothing for company but a hungry tiger.

At least the Germans seem to agree - the official German title of the film is Schiffbruch mit Tiger,  or "Shipwreck With Tiger".

The Poseidon Adventure

Long before 2006's lukewarm remake,  The Poseidon Adventure  had reigned supreme as the king of all shipwreck movies. After the cruise liner he is on is overturned by a rogue wave, unconvincing vicar Gene Hackman has to save the passengers from certain death.

One of the classic all-star disaster movies that boast the likes of  Earthquake  and  The Towering Inferno ,  The Poseidon Adventure  makes up for what it lacks in Oscar material with hammy dialogue and painfully dated special effects.

It goes without saying that the, well, titanic scale of this film is something that Hollywood has been trying to top ever since.

Still the 2nd highest-grossing movie of all time, this seabound-romance-cum-disaster-epic is also the 2nd ever film we cried at - after  Air Bud 2.

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Before he butchered his credibility (and our ears) in  Les Miserables , Russell Crowe was a certified badass - just take a look at his pistol-toting captain in  Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.

Crowe, somewhat unsurprisingly, plays both master and commander of a British warship during the Napoleonic wars - cue blasting cannons, raging storms and the most knuckle-biting amputation scene ever committed to the silver screen.

All is Lost

Featuring only one cast member,  All Is Lost  sees Robert Redford's yacht captain faring a one-man battle against a tropical storm.

It's a testament to Robert Redford that he can play an old lonely man in a raincoat, barely saying a word, and still be effortlessly cool.

K-19: The Widowmaker

With all the real-life tragedies at sea, it makes one wonder why we don't just stay on land. Harrison Ford stars as captain of the doomed submarine K-19, struggling to keep his crew alive after a radiation leak.

The film's title has been criticised, as the nickname 'Widowmaker' was actually dreamt up by movie execs and never used in real life. A producer has been since quoted as saying it was "one of their biggest mistakes".

White Squall

Another true story,  White Squall  follows a group of students and their captain as they battle the meteorological anomaly of the title, which is said to generate waves 20 feet high.

Although the tale it is based on is pretty impressive,  White Squall  isn't often included on the list of Ridley Scott's best. Mainly because it's quite rubbish.

In the Heart of the Sea

Although it hasn't been released yet,  In The Heart of the Sea  has already impressed us with Ron Howard at the helm and a cast including Chris Hemsworth and Cillian Murphy.

When a whaling ship is set adrift off the coast of New England, it's not just the elements that the crew have to brave - they'll also be facing off against the vengeful whale which inspired Herman Melville's  Moby Dick.  Our money's on the whale.

Of course if you fancy a blast from the past you could root for the original  Moby Dick,  where they decided to dismiss practical effect in favour of murdering real whales.

Anything for a good shot, eh?

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Sailing crew rescued after giant whale sank 44ft boat in Pacific Ocean

Whale collided with sailboat 13 days into group’s three-week sailing trip from Galápagos Islands to French Polynesia

A giant whale sank a sailing crew’s boat in the Pacific Ocean before the group was rescued at the end of an ordeal that could have come out of a novel.

Rick Rodriguez of Tavernier, Florida, and three friends spent 10 hours on a lifeboat and dinghy after a whale sank the crew’s 44ft sailboat Raindancer, the Washington Post reported on Monday.

The group had planned a three-week sailing trip from the Galápagos Islands to French Polynesia, about 3,500 miles away in the south Pacific . But on 13 March, only 13 days into the crossing, disaster struck. At about 1.30pm, Rodriguez was enjoying a vegetarian pizza for lunch with the others when he heard a loud noise.

“The second pizza had just come out of the oven, and I was dipping a slice into some ranch dressing,” Rodriguez said to the Post during an interview over a satellite phone. “The back half of the boat lifted violently upward and to starboard.”

Other members of the crew were thrown by the large impact, but each saw from different angles that a whale had smashed into the boat.

“I saw a massive whale off the port aft side with its side fin up in the air,” Alana Litz said.

Five seconds after the whale’s collision, an alarm sounded, warning that the boat was filling with water. Rodriguez said the crew members, who each have experience boating, quickly sprang into action.

Rodriguez placed a mayday call on a VHF radio and dispatched the emergency position indicating radio beacon, a distress signal that is connected to a worldwide rescue network.

The Peruvian coast guard later picked up Rodriguez’s distress beacon and notified a US Coast Guard station in California that oversees American ships in the Pacific Ocean.

While saltwater spilled into the vessel, others in the boat gathered food, emergency equipment and other gear, as well as fresh water.

The crew launched their lifeboat and a dinghy. They had grabbed their safety supplies but didn’t have enough time to get their passports.

On the lifeboat, the group had sufficient water for about a week. The crew also had a device that catches rainwater as well as food for three weeks.

Now stranded, Rodriguez and the crew had a phone, satellite wifi hotspot and an external battery that were all minimally charged.

Rodriguez first messaged his friend and fellow sailor Tommy Joyce about the situation. Joyce was sailing the same route as Rodriguez about 180 miles behind.

“Tommy this is no joke,” Rodriguez typed. “We hit a whale and the ship went down.”

Rodriguez sent a similar message to his brother, Roger, adding: “Tell mom it’s going to be OK.”

Rodriguez then asked his brother to send a message to Joyce on WhatsApp because he checked the social messaging app more frequently. After turning off the wifi hotspot for two hours to save battery power, Rodriguez received a reassuring message from Joyce: “We got you bud.”

Hours later, Rodriguez and his crew joined the Rolling Stones, a 45ft boat captained by Geoff Stone.

Stone had received one of Rodriguez’s mayday calls from a friend and coordinated a rescue of Rodriguez’s group with Joyce and the Peruvian officials.

The crew should land in French Polynesia on Wednesday. Rodriguez told the Post he is grateful to be safely onboard the Rolling Stones but misses the Raindancer, a boat he was living on and had retrofitted for the trip.

“I feel very lucky, and grateful, that we were rescued so quickly,” said Rodriguez. “We were in the right place at the right time to go down.”

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‘Absolutely amazing’: Capt. of overturned luxury yacht off North Carolina coast thanks locals after crew’s rescue

E LIZABETH CITY, N.C. (WNCN) — The captain of an overturned luxury yacht off the North Carolina coast told CBS 17 Sunday that the four who were rescued from the catamaran Saturday are all safe.

The Moon Dragon 60-foot catamaran yacht encountered rough seas about 140 miles southeast of Wilmington just after noon Saturday.

Both port and starboard side hatches on the 2021 vessel broke leading to “catastrophic flooding” which forced the crew to abandon ship, the U.S. Coast Guard said. Wind was at 35 mph and seas were 11 to 12 feet.

A Coast Guard plane was launched from Elizabeth City and located the partially sunken yacht. A Coast Guard helicopter was then sent to the scene and rescued four crew members from the catamaran.

The group was then taken back to Elizabeth City.

“We are all safe. And the Coast Guard and locals have been absolutely amazing,” Moon Dragon Capt. Jason Kindree Jake told CBS 17.

The Moon Dragon is a charter catamaran and has six luxury cabins with room for 10 passengers, according to the website for the vessel. The lowest-priced weekly charter for just two guests is $58,000 with a $69,000 weekly rate for 10 guests, the Sailing Directions website reports.

Kindree now has a photo on his Facebook page of the rescued crew — all barefoot — with the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter Coast Guard crew after they landed in Elizabeth City on Saturday evening.

The crew is now in Raleigh while the Moon Dragon remains partially submerged and the Coast Guard has issued a hazard-to-navigation safety broadcast to notify mariners in the area.

“We are so happy for the overwhelming support the local community has offered,” Kendree said about their unexpected visit to Elizabeth City and Raleigh. “All I would say is that all of North Carolina that helped us is a fantastic community that’s here.”

The Moon Dragon earlier this month was at Yankee Point Marina in Lancaster, Virginia, where it underwent some cleaning and other work. The yacht then appeared at the Annapolis Boat Show which wrapped up Oct. 15.

The yacht offers charters between the Mid-Atlantic and the Virgin Islands.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com.

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Reporting by Mike Scarcella

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