Capsized boaters rescued by RB-M crew
Three boaters were rescued by the US Coast Guard on Tuesday after their vessel capsized near St. Catherines Island, Georgia, US.
Three boaters were rescued by the US Coast Guard on Tuesday after their vessel capsized near St. Catherines Island, Georgia, US. Coast Guard Sector Charleston received a call at 02:15 hrs from a male voice saying ‘mayday’. An approximate position of the vessel was provided by S&R technology tool Rescue 21, and a Coast Guard Station Tybee Island 45-foot Response Boat – Medium (RB-M) crew and an Air Station Savannah MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter crew launched at approximately 02:54 hrs and began searching.
The RB-M crew noticed a flashing light at 03:22 hrs, which was being used by the crew of the vessel. This enabled them to locate the capsized vessel. The RB-M crew transported the boaters to Station Tybee Island. “The co-ordination between the responding units and search and rescue mission co-ordinators, as well as the VHF radio and flashing light that the crew of this vessel used, were all instruments and critical links that led to the successful rescue of these boaters,” said Anthony Kozak, an S&R controller at Sector Charleston. “Furthermore, not only did Rescue 21 pick up the call, but the direction-finding gear on the two remote fixed facilities led us right to the boat in distress.”