Coast guard saves three hunters, dog from coastal waters
COOS BAY, Ore. -- A response team with the Coast Guard rescued three duck hunters and their dog Saturday morning after their boat capsized near Coos Bay, officials said.
Two men and a teenager (ages 45, 26 and 13, respectively) were hunting from their 18-foot boat when it capsized.
At around 7:30 a.m. staff at The Mill Casino called the North Bend Coast Guard Group saying that they saw two of the hunters in the river near the casino.
The North Bend station immediately launched a rescue helicopter and 25-foot response boat crew to help out the stranded men.
Upon arrival, the helicopter group said that all three hunters an their dog were in the water without life jackets.
A few minutes later the response crew arrived and a rescue swimmer helped the group into the boat.
The boat took the hunters and dog ashore to a waiting medical team. All four were wet and cold but no one was injured.
The Coast Guard advises boaters to take proper safety precautions, especially during the winter. Make a float plan, ensure someone knows where you'll be boating and always wear a lifejacket while in your vessel. Hypothermia sets in quickly in cold water and life jackets significantly increase the odds of survival.
The adults should be cited for child endangerment.,, at the very least they could of made sure the 13 yr old was wearing a life vest.I think it should be mandatory,if it already isn't ,for life vests to be worn full time while on the water
 @Whitehawk After looking at the reg's, it appears the cutoff for requiring is 12 yo, so they were legal but just not very responsible, at least from my perspective. As long as they had 3 life vests on board then met C.C. requirements.