A man, a woman and their dog had to be rescued from their boat by helicopter early Saturday morning after they became stuck in rough seas off the Oregon coast, officials said.

On Friday around 2:30 p.m., the Coast Guard received a call from the couple, who were concerned about crossing the Columbia bar, a notoriously dangerous part of the coastline where the Columbia River empties into the Pacific Ocean.

A rescue boat was dispatched, arrived at the 44-foot vessel and made contact with the couple.

“The rescue crew determined that it was unsafe to tow the vessel across the bar due to stability issues and deteriorating conditions,” the Coast Guard said in a statement. “The crew instructed the boaters to don life jackets and remain offshore until weather improved.”

After another unsuccessful rescue by boat attempt around 2:45 a.m. Saturday, the Coast Guard launched a helicopter and hoisted the woman, 56, from the deck of the imperiled boat.

The conditions worsened and it became unsafe to hoist the man, 55, and the dog from the deck of the boat, which was rocking in 12-foot waves.

The man and his dog were told to jump into the 48-degree water, after which they were safely hoisted up to the helicopter. The couple and their dog, none of whom were identified, were brought back to shore by 5:45 a.m., all without injury.

The abandoned boat remains at sea, the Coast Guard said, and other vessels in the area were alerted to its presence.

-- Kale Williams

kwilliams@oregonian.com

503-294-4048

@sfkale

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