On 06/09/2012 at about 1520 hours Homer Wildlife Troopers and NOAA
Fisheries officers were conducting a joint enforcement operation at the Homer Harbor when Troopers received a report of an overturned skiff with three individuals in the water about three miles southwest of the Homer Spit. Two troopers and a NOAA fisheries officer immediately went underway in P/V Augustine toward the reported location. As troopers responded, the caller and her husband both of Homer, responded to the location to render assistance. Two additional vessels (a University of Alaska Fairbanks research boat, of Seldovia, and the F/V Elma J also responded to render assistance). As Troopers continued to respond, the Good Samaritans were able to load all three individuals into the vessel. They were then transferred to the UAF vessel for transport to shore. Troopers escorted the UAF vessel to the Homer Harbor where the three individuals were transferred to a waiting ambulance and transported to South Peninsula Hospital. The victims were identified. All three individuals were treated for moderate to severe hypothermia and have since been released from the hospital. The individuals were in the water for between 25 and 30 minutes and all three were wearing life jackets. Troopers would like to credit the crews of the three vessels that immediately responded, as well as the folks who witnessed and reported the incident. Without their quick action this incident would have likely been  fatal.
Homer                         