UPDATE: Coast Guard and VMRC respond to woman in distress on boogie board near Metompkin Inlet

The Coast Guard rescued a 67-year-old woman after she was swept out to sea from Metompkin Inlet on Friday.

At approximately 4:30 Friday afternoon emergency units were called to a “water incident” near Folly Creek.

The woman’s husband called 911 after witnessing her get swept out to sea.

Coast Guard Sector Virginia dispatched a 24-foot Special Purpose Watercraft boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Wachapreague and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew from Air Station Elizabeth City to search for the woman. 

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission also conducted search efforts.

The woman was located by the Station Wachapreague boatcrew 1 mile off Metompkin Inlet clinging to a boogie board.

Station Wachapreague transported the woman to Folly Creek Boat Ramp.

“Through rapid coordination efforts of the command center watchstanders and partner agencies, we were able to conduct an effective rescue and safely bring the survivor back to shore,” said Lt. Steven Pope, Command Duty Officer at Coast Guard Sector Virginia. “This is another example of an efficient and rapid response effort as well as interagency coordination.”

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