Sure, we may be only five weeks or so into 2023, but we may already have a leader in the clubhouse for weirdest story of the year. Friday, the Coast Guard responded to a “Mayday” call from a person on a yacht caught in the deadly currents at the mouth of the Columbia River near Astoria, Oregon.
The Coast Guard dispatched a rescue swimmer to aid the boat’s sole occupant, who was hanging onto the back of the vessel for dear life. However, before the swimmer could reach the man, an enormous wave capsized the yacht.
The rescue swimmer, Petty Officer 1st Class Branch Walton, on his first rescue mission, was not deterred and located the man in the water and brought him to safety. The man was whisked off to an area hospital where he was treated for mild hypothermia and released.
And if the story ended there, it would be crazy enough. But, after the man was released by police, they came to realize that the yacht from which he was rescued was stolen. Then, after video of the dramatic rescue went viral, people started to recognize the man. From where? From another video that went viral less than 24 hours earlier.
That video was of the same man approaching the house that was used in the filming of the 1985 movie, The Goonies, and leaving a large fish on the porch.
From information they had about The Goonies video, police were able to locate the man a short time later at a homeless shelter, where he was “staying under an assumed name“ and arrested him.
It remains unclear how the man came into possession of the yacht or why he left a large fish on the porch of The Goonies house.
