Hunters stranded by flood waters rescued by helicopter

This story was originally published on mynorthwest.com.

Helicopter crews from the U.S. Coast Guard and Washington National Guard on Friday rescued two hunters stranded by floodwaters in the North Cascades, just east of Darrington.

The families of the two hunters reported them missing after they were trapped by rising waters at a cabin on the Suiattle River near Mansford, Washington.

They were stuck in the cabin and lacking food, after floodwaters washed away their only road access.

Coast Guard crews from Astoria and Port Angeles assisted a National Guard Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter in the search.

While searching from the air, crews spotted a small hunting cabin with two hunters waving at them with a bright light.

A coast guard brought down a rescue swimmer.

He was warmly welcomed by the two distressed men.

A helicopter escape pod then transported the two fighters to the plane.

The plane’s crew flew the two men to an airport in Darrington, where they were reunited with family members.