U.S. Coast Guard members and Alaska State Troopers conducted an unusual rescue mission last weekend involving an inflatable pink flamingo raft.
Facebook and Twitter pages for the U.S. Coast Guard Alaska said that a helicopter crew from Air Station Kodiak flew in to hoist up three people and two dogs from the raft Saturday, June 5. Before crews came to help, the raft was swept across Monashka Bay, located of the coast of Alaska’s Kodiak Island.
In an interview with The Washington Post, Hollie Spencer said she was panicked when she and two friends -- who had gone out on the 10-ft. long, pink flamingo-shaped floating device to celebrate her 30th birthday -- realized they couldn’t steer raft as it was pushed into the bay by wind.
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Eventually, the raft drifted into rocks poking up from the water and began to deflate, according to the Washington Post.
“Alaska State Troopers and the #USCG worked together to determine that due to the treacherous circumstances, a helicopter hoist was the best option to bring these folks and their animals back to shore, safe and sound!” said the U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Facebook post.
A few days later, the Coast Guard also updated video of the aerial rescue.
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