GLENEDEN BEACH — Two years ago when two young men were swept out to sea in rough surf, would-be rescuers could do nothing but stand helplessly on shore and watch. The surf was much too big for Jet Skis, the waters too shallow for a boat.

By the time the U.S. Coast Guard swimmer arrived by helicopter, the two were gone. It’s a scene that haunts the local rescuers to this day.

But Friday, crew members from fire departments all over the central coast got their first look at a new tool they hope can save lives in the same situation should it occur again. And on the Oregon Coast, you can bet it will.

Meet EMILY — short for Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard — a robotic raft with an engine, jet prop impeller and the ability to cruise at speeds up to 28 mph.

EMILY’s origins in marine sanctuaries

It’s the brainchild of Anthony Mulligan, an Arizona inventor who initially developed the raft for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for use in national marine sanctuaries where standard boats might harm the marine life. The device had to be able to handle rough water and be relatively inexpensive.

Mulligan, president and CEO of Hydronalix, came up with a remote-controlled raft, then realized its uses could go beyond quiet missions in sensitive environments.

“When we were doing that development work, we saw how well the small robotic boat was working in the surf zone, and we came up with the idea that maybe we could put a life preserver on it,” Mulligan said. So he queried lifeguards who work along California’s famed Malibu beaches and asked what they thought.

“They thought it was really interesting and something they really needed. So, I met this lifeguard at Starbucks, and we started crunching some numbers the way engineers do, and we came up with this concept that looked like EMILY.”

The raft can be sent out to people to hang on to and float until help arrives, Mulligan said, and he’s experimented with using it to carry victims back to shore.

It may also be fitted with a speaker to give people instructions, and in the future could come with a camera “trained” to look for specific items, such as a person fully clothed.

The first test in Oregon took place at Gleneden Beach, where 16-year-old Ross Barfuss, of Aloha, died in 2008 when he tried to save 11-year-old River Jenison, of Westfir, who also drowned. Barfuss was honored last year with a posthumous lifesaving award from the Coast Guard.

On Friday morning, the surf was churning 10 to 12 feet. Operated by Depoe Bay Fire Chief Joshua Williams, EMILY caught a wave, flipped up in the air, landed and in seconds, righted itself and continued on. The robot rode another wave, caught some air and settled back down.

Then came the big one. EMILY flipped into the air and landed upside down. The crowd waited and watched. EMILY stayed down. Then another wave came in, flipped her right-side up and drove EMILY back to shore.

“I’m not pleased with that demo,” said Ed Hallahan a member of the Yachats Fire Department board of directors. “I would have liked to see it get out past the surf line.”

Still, he noted, in a similar situation, rescuers would have no choice but to launch two Jet Skis. “That is putting two more people in danger,” he said. Jet Skis also run about $5,000 to $6,000 each. EMILY is expected to cost about $3,500.

Jim Kusz, a spokesman for the Depoe Bay Fire Department, wasn’t surprised by the capsizing.

“I’ve been doing water rescues for 15 years,” Kusz said. “Even when we launch skis, it is always iffy. You have to watch where you go. I saw the potential. I was impressed with the first few minutes. When it went belly up, the fact that we got it out and running again, that was impressive.”

As it turned out, EMILY simply had a screw loose and was shortly ready for test number two, this time at Otter Crest State Park.

Second test a success

There, Jeff Cutler in full rescue swim gear headed out through 3- to 4-foot surf. Would-be rescuers worked 800 feet of rope tethered to EMILY and sent the raft on its inaugural field test using the rope.

EMILY popped over one wave, then another and another, her red flag waving in the breeze. In a matter of moments, the robot reached Cutler. He climbed on, and the men on shore safely reeled him in.

“That was awesome,” said a grinning Kusz. “We are pleased.”