By Laura Swanson
With all of outdoor recreational activities, there are plenty of things that can go wrong. We are always encouraged by first responders and law enforcement that if you “see something, say something.” In this case, it was when you hear something … The Mautner family live in Barview near the North Jetty and overlooking Tillamook Bay. On Friday evening October 14th at about 8 pm, ten-year-old Tanner Mautner comes in and tells his mom, Tamara, that he heard something, someone calling and whistling out on the bay. Tamara went outside with Tanner and didn’t hear anything and told him that it was probably just a bird. But Tanner was insistent, “No Mom someone is out there, I heard them.”
“That’s when I heard it and it was a consistent whistle,” said Tamara. “We shined a light out over the bay towards the mouth and then saw their light,” she continued. “There was someone out there.”
Tamara immediately called the Coast Guard and relayed that information to those in the water. They were also flashing a light in what appeared to be an “SOS” signal.
Ty Mautner, arrived home about this time, and immediately headed out to the jetty and confirmed there were people in the water. He let them know the Coast Guard was on the way.
Two kayakers had gone out to check their crab pots, overturned their kayaks, lost their paddles and were close to being pulled out into the ocean when rescued by the Coast Guard. One individual was hypothermic, but refused treatment.
Tanner received an award from the Coast Guard for his actions that without a doubt saved two lives. See something (or hear something) that doesn’t seem quite right, say something. Great job, Tanner!