Sinking Boat Rescue – 8/30/2014

SAR Staff, Hasty Team, PLPD, Pyramid Lake Rangers, SVU, and WCSAR responded to the report of a pontoon boat with 14 people on board that was taking on water near the Pyramid. Crews at the lake began an immediate response from Pelican Dock, while ground teams began the trip from Reno to the east side of Pyramid Lake. The crew on M50 located the vessel which was visibly low in the water, with wave heights of 2′-3′, approximately one mile from shore. One of the subjects on board was a paraplegic in a motorized wheelchair. Also add into the situation, two large dogs. It was decided that the best and safest solution at that moment was to tow the boat back to shore, to the relatively protected area near the Pyramid, and beach it. Once that was done, all of the subjects were transferred to the beach, and the paraplegic subject was strapped to a backboard and carried to a waiting vehicle until an ambulance arrived to transport him. Ground SAR teams were also tasked with the job of moving the 350lb. wheelchair from the boat, approximately 75 yards through the sand to where the vehicle were parked. All of the subjects and dogs were then placed in SAR vehicles and ambulance, and transported to their camp at Pelican beach. The disabled boat was retrieved by SVU boat crews the next day.