SAN FRANCISCO - The U.S. Coast Guard assisted the California National Guard in the rescue of a San Francisco man who lost engine power on his single-engine airplane and landed in the water about 10 miles west of Pillar Point, Calif., this afternoon.

At approximately 3 p.m. the C-130 aircraft from Air Station Sacramento, on a training mission nearby when they heard the mayday call over the radio, diverted to the scene and dropped a survival kit consisting of a life raft, survival suit, and flares to the man in the water. At the same time, the Coast Guard cutter Tern, homeported at Yerba Buena Island, was diverted, along with a 47-foot boat from Station Golden Gate. The Pillar Point Harbor Master and a Good Samaitan also responded.

The crew of the Air National Guard HH-60G Pavehawk helicopter, from the 129th rescue Wing at Moffett Air Field in Mountain View, had just completed joint training operations with the Coast Guard and was about to land at Air Station San Francisco when they were requested to divert to the scene. Arriving on scene at about 3:20 p.m. the Pavehawk hoisted the man and brought him back to the air station to receive emergency medical care.

The man was treated for hypothermia at the air station before being transported by emergency medical services to San Francisco General Hospital. The man's plane sunk and was unsalvageable.

For more information contact Coast Guard Lt. Randall Black at Air Station Sacramento at 813-598-4803 or 813-598-4803; or Air National Guard Lt. Col. Sobrino, Moffett Federal Air Field at 650-603-9137 or 650-603-9357.

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