July 16, 2024 – Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team officials report that on July 13, 2024, at 6:30 P.M. (1830 hours) the Team was called to assist two young adult males who were stranded on Negit Island in Mono Lake and two that were stranded on the shore of the mainland nearby. A rescue base was established to the north of the Tioga Inn where there was an unpaved deep-water launch site.

A Mono County Sheriff’s Sergeant and Deputy responded with the Sheriff’s Office aluminum patrol boat, and the Team brought its 14.5’ inflatable rescue boat (IRB) with an outboard engine. Both watercraft were launched, and the Sheriff’s patrol boat was staffed with the Sergeant and two MOSAR members, and the IRB carried a field team of three.

The MOSAR IRB navigated to the west shore of Negit Island and was able to retrieve two of the stranded subjects. A deputy in a vehicle in the Black Point area retrieved the two from the lakeshore, and then the two subjects in the IRB were transferred to the patrol boat, and all returned to the launch area. The operation concluded at approximately 9:00 P.M. (2100 hours).

View video here.

View video here.

IC: Pelichowski, Salazar Ops Leader: Haugh, Beck  Responders: Bush, Gerber, Cowan, Romanova, Ackerman, Brownlee, Dickau, Case, Quiring, Salay, Cornelius, Wallace

Source & photos: Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team