Coast Guard Hero Dies After Rescue Mission, Receives Deathbed Proposal and Medal

A Coast Guard rescue swimmer from Oregon died Thursday after suffering injuries during a medical evacuation mission off Washington's coast. Before his passing, Tyler Jaggers received a hospital bedside proposal arranged by his family and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism.

A Coast Guard rescue swimmer has passed away following injuries sustained during a life-saving mission off Washington state’s coastline.

Tyler Jaggers died Thursday night, but not before experiencing two deeply moving moments: his family orchestrated a bedside engagement proposal to his partner, and military officials presented him with the Distinguished Flying Cross – among the military’s most prestigious honors for aerial heroism – while loved ones and fellow service members looked on.

Military leadership also elevated Jaggers to petty officer 2nd class during the ceremony.

“He demonstrated extraordinary heroism in the face of danger, upholding the highest standards of courage and excellence for Coast Guard operations,” Admiral Kevin Lunday, Commandant of the Coast Guard, said in a statement Friday. “We honor his selfless actions and unwavering devotion to our highest calling: to save others.”

The tragic incident occurred February 27th when Jaggers’ Astoria, Oregon-based team was dispatched to airlift a stroke patient from a commercial ship positioned 120 nautical miles off Washington’s shoreline.

While Coast Guard officials haven’t released specific details pending their ongoing investigation, Rick McElrath from the Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue Swimmer Association explained that Jaggers suffered his injuries after falling while being lowered from the aircraft to the vessel’s deck. McElrath leads the nonprofit organization supporting Coast Guard aviation veterans.

Medical teams kept Jaggers on life support while treating him at facilities in Victoria, British Columbia, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Seattle before his death Thursday evening.

Jaggers enlisted in January 2022 and had been stationed in Astoria since 2024. The Department of Homeland Security had previously commended his outstanding service aboard the Coast Guard cutter Legare during Caribbean operations.

Officials continue investigating the circumstances surrounding his injuries.

The Canadian Coast Guard ultimately completed the stroke victim’s evacuation, McElrath noted.

In Thursday’s social media post, Jaggers’ partner Cassandra Weaver shared the touching story of their engagement: his father placed the ring on her finger while she sat beside his hospital bed.

“What I didn’t realize was that he had recently told some of his closest buddies that he was getting ready to propose,” Cassandra Weaver wrote. “So yesterday, surrounded by the people who love him most, his family carried out the proposal on Tyler’s behalf.”

Her post featured images of her engagement ring while holding his hand and touching his Coast Guard uniform.

“I always told him I didn’t care if he proposed with a Ring Pop,” she wrote. “I said yes.”