NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The crew of Sonoma County Sheriff’s “Henry-One” helicopter took quick action during routine patrol on Thursday to save a windsurfer in Marin County.

Henry-One and its flight crew – consisting of Pilot Paul Bradley and Tactical Flight Officer-Deputy Sheriff Chris Mahoney – frequently assist with rescue and recovery operations around the region.

Lt. Tim Duke of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office reported that the helicopter and its crew were on routine air patrol, flying over the Santa Rosa area, on Thursday when at 5:47 p.m. the flight crew overheard a radio transmission from Marin County Fire Dispatch requesting fire and rescue personnel for an ocean rescue near the mouth of Tomales Bay.

Henry-One responded along with the United States Coast Guard and Marin County emergency personnel, according to Duke.

Within eight minutes of the ocean rescue radio transmission, Henry-One arrived on scene and the crew immediately located a distressed windsurfer who was in the water just outside the mouth of Tomales Bay, Duke said. The windsurfer was clinging to his board, intermittently waving his arms, signaling he was in distress.

Duke said Bradley landed the helicopter on the west shore of Tomales Bay and Deputy Mahoney configured the aircraft for a long-line rescue.

In a matter of moments, once the aircraft had been rigged for a rescue, Mahoney attached himself to the bottom of the long-line and Bradley flew him to the distressed windsurfer, Duke said.

Mahoney secured the windsurfer in a rescue device and Bradley flew them – at the bottom of the long-line – to shore at Dillon Beach, where emergency personnel were waiting to assist, according to Duke.

Duke said the entire Henry-One flight crew routinely trains for rescues in the ocean, on cliffs and other remote areas located along the North Coast.

The aircraft and crew members always carry water rescue equipment for incidents such as this, Duke said.