PORT ANGELES – Port Angeles-based Coast Guard aircrews rescued multiple people during two separate cases in northern Washington, yesterday afternoon.

One helicopter crew medically evacuated a 70-year-old women from a sailboat that ran aground near Oak Harbor.  Another aircrew rescued four hikers who were stranded on rocks by a high tide at the south end of 3rd Beach in the Olympic National Park.

The first call came via a marine distress channel at about 12:45. A 36-foot sailboat had run aground, injuring one of the three people on board. After the medical evacuation, the boat was towed to Anacortes.

Just five minutes later another call came from Olympic National Park Rangers reporting four stranded individuals on the rocks off of 3rd Beach. The rangers reported the hikers had walked off the beach about 100 to 150 yards onto adjacent rocks prior to high tide. The changing tide left the hikers with no escape route. A Coast Guard aircrew was diverted to the scene and hoisted the four hikers to safety. No injuries or medical concerns were reported.