Coos Bay man drowns in Charleston Harbor
CHARLESTON, Ore.- What was supposed to be a leisurely trip out to sea, ended up claiming the life of a Coos Bay man.
At about noon on Sunday, the vessel "Idaho" was sailing out into the bay with three people on board, when 43 year old Robert Partipilo fell overboard, near the entrance to Charleston Harbor.
The Coos County Sheriffs Office says, the boat's captain attempted to motor around to rescue Partipilo, who was not wearing a life jacket.
But the captain told the Sheriff's Office, a line from the boat's sails got tangled in the propeller, causing the boat to lose power and had to drop anchor.
KCBY spoke with the victims girlfriend who was on board.
She says, Partipilo held onto a buoy to keep afloat.
The captain sent a mayday call to the Coast Guard, while two near by kayakers tried to help.
But before anyone could get to Partipilo, he slipped below the water and did not come back up.
Doug Strain, a Marine Deputy with the Sheriffs Office says, boaters should always be cautious even when water looks calm.
"That's a common misconception among boaters is they think they will have time to prepare for an emergency, "says Strain. "The fact of the matter is, it wouldn't be an emergency if you were prepared for it. These things happen before you have time to think, before you have time to react and it takes way to long to find and get on a life jacket when you absolutely need it."
The U.S. Coast Guard, along with the Coos County Sheriff's Department Marine Deputies and the North Bend Fire Volunteer Dive Team responded and began their search, staring where Partipilo was last seen.
Approximately two hours later, divers were able to recover his body.
Strain tells KCBY, given the conditions, it was a tough task.
"Those guys are unpaid, they come out here in harms way. The winds were 20 knots, the seas were picking up depending on the squalls we had. Sometimes they were three or four feet. They are out there in the pouring rain in dry-suits. They did their job and walked away" continues Strain.
Coos County Sheriffs say the investigation is continuing, and at this time no enforcement action has been taken.
At about noon on Sunday, the vessel "Idaho" was sailing out into the bay with three people on board, when 43 year old Robert Partipilo fell overboard, near the entrance to Charleston Harbor.
The Coos County Sheriffs Office says, the boat's captain attempted to motor around to rescue Partipilo, who was not wearing a life jacket.
But the captain told the Sheriff's Office, a line from the boat's sails got tangled in the propeller, causing the boat to lose power and had to drop anchor.
KCBY spoke with the victims girlfriend who was on board.
She says, Partipilo held onto a buoy to keep afloat.
The captain sent a mayday call to the Coast Guard, while two near by kayakers tried to help.
But before anyone could get to Partipilo, he slipped below the water and did not come back up.
Doug Strain, a Marine Deputy with the Sheriffs Office says, boaters should always be cautious even when water looks calm.
"That's a common misconception among boaters is they think they will have time to prepare for an emergency, "says Strain. "The fact of the matter is, it wouldn't be an emergency if you were prepared for it. These things happen before you have time to think, before you have time to react and it takes way to long to find and get on a life jacket when you absolutely need it."
The U.S. Coast Guard, along with the Coos County Sheriff's Department Marine Deputies and the North Bend Fire Volunteer Dive Team responded and began their search, staring where Partipilo was last seen.
Approximately two hours later, divers were able to recover his body.
Strain tells KCBY, given the conditions, it was a tough task.
"Those guys are unpaid, they come out here in harms way. The winds were 20 knots, the seas were picking up depending on the squalls we had. Sometimes they were three or four feet. They are out there in the pouring rain in dry-suits. They did their job and walked away" continues Strain.
Coos County Sheriffs say the investigation is continuing, and at this time no enforcement action has been taken.
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