A Bellevue, Washington man is being treated for hypothermia at a Newport-area hospital after his 38-foot sailboat drifted overnight into the surf and ended up on the beach. Oregon State Police troopers, US Coast Guard and Newport Fire Department personnel were at the scene this morning. Oregon State Parks & Recreation Department will work with the boat's owner for removal from the beach.
According to OSP Senior Trooper Doug Canfield, at approximately 8:00 a.m. a report was received of a beached sailboat on the shore near NW 68th Street in Newport. The boat's owner, a 77-year old retired physician, was the lone person on board the sailboat that also is his residence. His name is withheld to allow him time to notify relatives of the incident.
He told OSP that he was sailing along the Oregon coast and went to sleep during the night. He awoke during the early morning hours when the boat came to rest on its side on the beach. After initially finding himself stuck inside the boat, he was able to get out on his own. Following an initial medical evaluation at the scene, he was transported by Pac West Ambulance to Pacific Communities Hospital for treatment of hypothermia.
