A 67-year-old woman is safe after being rescued a mile offshore of Virginia’s Eastern Shore, clinging to a boogie board.
The Coast Guard says the woman was swept out to sea from Metompkin Inlet in Accomack County, Va., on Friday. Her husband called 911 when he saw her swept away from the shore. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission and the Coast Guard launched a search.
USCG searched with a 24-foot Special Purpose Watercraft boat crew from Station Wachapreague and a helicopter crew. The boat crew eventually found the woman a mile off the inlet holding onto a boogie board to stay afloat. The Coast Guard brought her safely back to Folly Creek Boat Ramp.
The Coast Guard says cooperation with the Marine Resources Commission allowed for a happy ending.
“Through rapid coordination efforts of the command center watchstanders and partner agencies, we were able to conduct an effective rescue and safely bring the survivor back to shore,” said Lt. Steven Pope, Command Duty Officer at Coast Guard Sector Virginia.
–Meg Walburn Viviano
