Coast Guard crews in the Pacific Northwest conducted a daring rescue in extremely rough seas earlier this month after receiving a Mayday call near the mouth of the Columbia River.

The choppy surf capsized the boat right in front of a rescue swimmer who’d been sent to take the boater off the yacht, but the rescuer still accomplished his mission.

(2/4)…who launched motor life boats from STA Cape Disappointment, the air crews arrived on scene to find the vessel floundering in the surf! The surf made rescue by boat dangerous, so the aircrew decided to lower the rescue swimmer and have the owner enter the water for rescue… pic.twitter.com/z92WvzpTG9

— USCGPacificNorthwest (@USCGPacificNW) February 3, 2023

It was after they’d gotten Jericho Labonte back to shore that they learned the boat, the P/C Sandpiper, had been stolen, and, just two days earlier, Labonte apparently filmed himself leaving a dead fish on the front porch of the Astoria, Oregon, home where the 1985 movie “The Goonies” was filmed, KGW reported.

Additionally, Victoria Police in Canada had issued an alert for Labonte last month, saying he was wanted for harassment, mischief, and failure to comply.

Labonte had already been released from treatment after his rescue, but investigators tracked him to a warming shelter in Seaside, where he was arrested on charges of theft, endangering another person, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and criminal mischief.

Labonte was caught on surveillance video leaving the dead fish at the Goonies house, KGW reported. Police said he also put stickers over the camera lenses after the fact and later returned to remove the fish.

That was on February 1. On February 3, the Coast Guard crews conducting training missions for the Advanced Helicopter Rescue School near the river mouth received the Mayday call and headed out. As seen in their video, the conditions on the surface were so turbulent they were unable to pluck Labonte off the deck by air and opted to send in the swimmer. He’s seen approaching the boat when a large wave slams into the port side.

“I kind of got thrown around a little bit by the wave and then when I came up I noticed that the boat was pretty much in shambles,” Petty Officer 3rd Class Branch Walton, the rescue swimmer, said. 

VicPD asking for public's assistance in locating wanted man Jericho Labonte. He is wanted on warrants for criminal harassment, mischief and fail to comply x 3. He may be travelling to Victoria and could pose a risk to public safety. If seen, do not approach and call 911. pic.twitter.com/gDXFDKFUk9

— Victoria Police (@vicpdcanada) January 20, 2023

It’s not clear what precipitated the charges against Labonte in Canada. It’s also unclear where he is now. Astoria Police Chief Stacy Kelly said the charges weren’t serious enough to warrant extradition, but after his arrest in Oregon, he was in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Northwest Detention Center in Washington.

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[Featured image: US Coast Guard Pacific Northwest]