U.S. Coast Guard UT-M Boat Crew Rescues Three Boaters From Capsized Boat
By JordanRocco // January 11, 2019
30-foot boat capsized after taking on water
CRYSTAL RIVER, FLORIDA – The Coast Guard rescued three boaters Thursday who capsized 4 miles west of Crystal River. While searching for a 71-year-old missing boater, a Coast Guard boat crew aboard a 27-foot Utility Boat-Medium from Coast Guard Station Yankeetown observed a flare Thursday at 3:32 a.m. near Crystal River.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg command center were notified at 3:15 a.m. by 7th Coast Guard District watchstanders of an Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon activation in the same area and relayed the distress to the UT-M boat crew.
The UT-M boat crew diverted to the source of emergency alerts to find three boaters taking on water aboard a 30-foot boat. The boat capsized and all three were recovered by UT-M crew.
“Equipment such as flares, life jackets and an electronic position indicating radio beacons are crucial in capsized vessel situations, and as you can see – played a huge factor in saving these three today,” said Senior Chief Allen Bozeman, officer in charge of Station Yankeetown.
The UT-M crew transferred the boaters to a nearby Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission boatcrew who took the three to awaiting EMS in Crystal River.
No injuries were reported.
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