Coast Guard Calls Off Search Along Inner Washington Coast After Body Found

Published 05/22/26 at 9:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Whidbey Island, Washington) – The holiday weekend has gotten off to a rough start on the north Washington inner coastline. A search that began last night ended in tragedy less than 24 hours later.

The Coast Guard ended its search Friday afternoon for a 65-year-old man missing near Point Wilson, Washington, after he was found deceased on Whidbey Island.

The man was last seen Thursday evening aboard a 12-foot dinghy. At about 7:45 p.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound received a report of an unmanned, adrift vessel with a possible person overboard. An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast was issued, and crews launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Port Angeles and a 45-foot Response Boat–Medium from Station Port Angeles. The Coast Guard Cutter Terrapin was diverted to join the search. (See more Washington coast)

A good Samaritan responding to the broadcast located the dinghy and towed it to Port Townsend Marina. Jefferson County deputies conducted shoreline searches and deployed a drone, while the Terrapin remained on scene through the night.

At this point, the search began including Canadian forces.

“At approximately 10 a.m. Friday, a Royal Canadian Air Force CC-295 Kingfisher aircrew from Comox, British Columbia, arrived on scene to assist,” the USCG said.

The missing man was discovered later in the day by a beach walker on Whidbey Island and recovered by the Island County Sheriff’s Office.

See similar recent incidents on the Oregon coast. Two Rescues at Different Areas of Oregon Coast: Cannon Beach, Depoe Bay - A man slipped off a cliff and was injured near Depoe Bay, bringing in the Coast Guard

“Every search represents a person, a family, and loved ones waiting for answers,” said Cmdr. Daniel Delgado, Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator for Sector Puget Sound. “Our crews never lose sight of the human life at the center of these cases. Though this search ended in heartbreaking tragedy, the dedication shown by responders throughout the day and night reflects the deep responsibility we feel to bring answers home to loved ones.”

File photo / USCG

In total, crews searched more than 715 miles over 17 hours. Conditions during the operation included 1-foot seas, 55-degree air temperature, 54-degree water temperature, and 5-mile visibility.

Agencies involved in the search and recovery included:

- Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles MH-65 Dolphin
- Coast Guard Station Port Angeles 45-foot Response Boat–Medium
- Coast Guard Maritime Force Protection Unit Bangor 33-foot Special Purpose Craft
- Coast Guard Cutter Terrapin (WPB-87366)
- Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
- Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
- Royal Canadian Air Force CC-295 Kingfisher
- Salish Rescue of Port Townsend
- Island County Sheriff’s Office
- Island County Coroner’s Office

File photo / USCG

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