A U.S. Coast Guard crew rescued three people from a sinking vessel approximately 80 miles offshore of Clearwater, Florida. The incident occurred on a Saturday when watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg received a distress call from the operator of the 39-foot pleasure craft. The vessel was rapidly taking on water.
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Clearwater was dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, the aircrew found the three individuals stranded aboard their sinking boat. The Coast Guard crew deployed a rescue swimmer to assess the situation and prepare for the hoist.
Dramatic video footage shows the rescue swimmer assisting each person individually into a rescue basket. Each person was hoisted into the helicopter and transported safely to Air Station Clearwater. No injuries were reported. The cause of the vessel’s sinking is unknown and the boat ultimately sank. The Coast Guard emphasizes the importance of having proper safety equipment, including functioning radios and life jackets, when boating.
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