Coast Guard Rescues 6 People from Sinking Boat

(U.S. Coast Guard photo released by Petty Officer 3rd Class DaVonte’ Marrow)

Source: U.S. Coast Guard

Coast Guard helicopter and boat crews rescued six people from a sinking vessel 12 miles southeast of Channel Islands Harbor, Sunday morning. 

Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach watchstanders received a mayday call at approximately 9:00 a.m. via VHF channel 16 from a 36-foot recreational boat taking on water.

Shortly after hearing the mayday call, a Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco’s Forward Operating Base Point Mugu MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew diverted from another operation to respond.

Watchstanders from Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach quickly launched a Coast Guard Station Channel Islands Harbor 45-foot Response Boat crew to respond as well. 

The Dolphin crew arrived on scene and hoisted three people and transported them to Forward Operating Base Point Mugu. The RB-M crew arrived on scene at 9:30 a.m. and pulled the remaining three people from the water and transported them to Coast Guard Station Channel Islands Harbor.

There were no reported injuries and all six boaters were reunited at Coast Guard Station Channel Islands Harbor.

”We were encouraged to see that the mariners were prepared to abandon ship with life jackets on,” said Lt. Cmdr Jack Smith, Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator. “Wearing your life jacket greatly improves your chance of survival in the deceptively cold water off the California coast.”

The Coast Guard reminds all mariners to ensure that they have the proper emergency equipment aboard their vessel to aid in timely rescue if a problem is encountered at sea.