SEATTLE -- One man was killed and two others survived after they were pulled from the choppy waters of the Pacific Ocean off the Washington coast Tuesday in one of three incidents involving fishermen competing in a halibut tournament more than 20 miles offshore.

Boaters from two nearby charter fishing vessels pulled the three men who fell overboard out of the water, and a Canadian and U.S. Coast Guard helicopters rushed the men to a hospital, the Coast Guard said.

The U.S. Coast Guard said it received a distress call for a vessel 25 miles northwest of LaPush at 9:47 a.m. and sent helicopters from Port Angeles and Astoria, Ore., to the scene. A Canadian Coast Guard helicopter from Victoria also responded.

VIDEO: 2 Escape, 1 Killed During Fishing Tournament
SLIDESHOW: Rescue Choppers Land At Forks Airport

A 71-year-old man who was unconscious underwent CPR and was taken by the Canadian Coast Guard helicopter to Forks, where he was pronounced dead.

The other two men were hypothermic, the Coast Guard said, and were also taken to Forks.

At about the same time, the Coast Guard said its crews dropped a pump to a 22-foot boat in the area that was taking on water with four people aboard. After the boat was stabilized, a 47-foot motor lifeboat crew from Station Quillayute River towed the boat in to shore. No one was injured.

Meanwhile, a 26-foot boat lost power and was motoring on a small kicker engine in heavy seas, the Coast Guard said. It, too, was towed to La Push.

Days like Tuesday "are our greatest fear," said Coast Guard Lt. Eric Perdue of the 13-foot seas and fog in the area.

"Small boats that far offshore in heavy weather is not a good situation," Perdue said.