WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A tragedy off the coast of Point Roberts last week has brought criticism of the U.S. Coast Guard by members of Lummi Nation.
My Bellingham Now previously reported on the death of a fisherman following their ship taking on water last Monday.
A call brought the Canadian Coast Guard, a Good Samaritan and the U.S. Coast Guard to the sinking vessel approximately a mile off the coast of Point Roberts.
Two brothers on board were rescued but one, identified as Kevin Finkbonner, was later pronounced dead at Blaine Harbor.
Lummi Chairman Anthony Hillaire later read a statement from Finkbonner’s family on social media, criticizing the U.S. Coast Guard for a slow response.
“Both our sons were in the water for over an hour before rescue reached them,” Hillaire read. “In moments like these, every second matters, and the delay in response is something our community must confront.”
U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson Petty Officer Steve Strohmaier said that a Canadian crew responded from Richmond, B.C. and was first on the scene, nearly half an hour after the all-call went out.
The U.S. crew arrived roughly 20 minutes after the Canadians, and after the Samaritan had rescued the surviving brother.
Strohmaier said that the U.S. crew responded as swiftly as they could, given the distance they had to travel and that they didn’t receive the distress call directly.
