NAVAL AIR STATION WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. – A Search and Rescue (SAR) team from Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island rescued a 42-year-old man and his three children off a 40-ft. cliff face on Third Beach near La Push, Washington on Sunday, July, 30.

NAS Whidbey’s SAR unit departed from the base just before 6:45 p.m. The Navy team arrived on scene just over half an hour after liftoff and located the family after a short search aided by a park ranger near the scene. The family got trapped on a small ledge after the tide came in. NAS Whidbey Island’s SAR team was able to evacuate the family in about 15 minutes, then flew them to Quillayute State Airport for transport back to their vehicle.

This was the 26th rescue of 2017 for NAS Whidbey Island SAR, which has also conducted four searches and 14 Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions this year.