Two retrieved from Corpus Christi Bay
On 19 October, the US Coast Guard Station at Port Aransas, Texas, received a call from a woman who had been sailing with her boyfriend, letting them know that he had entered the water to retrieve the vessel’s detached front bow hatch cover and drifted away.
On 19 October, the US Coast Guard Station at Port Aransas, Texas, received a call from a woman who had been sailing with her boyfriend, letting them know that he had entered the water to retrieve the vessel’s detached front bow hatch cover and drifted away; the girlfriend was unable to operate the boat so couldn’t sail after him. In response, Sector Corpus Christi dispatched a response boat from Station Port Aransas and an aircrew onboard an MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter from Sector Corpus Christi. Local sheriff and police department personnel were also asked to help with search efforts.
The boat was quickly located, and rescue personnel helped the woman to anchor the vessel before taking her onboard the response boat. They then set off in search of the woman’s boyfriend, who was discovered in the water some way off, clinging to the detached hatch cover. He was recovered from the water with no injuries.
“It is never a good idea to jump overboard from your boat, especially since both boaters were not wearing life jackets,” commented Petty Officer Chad Eakin, coxswain onboard the response boat. “Had he been wearing a life jacket, the search would have been much shorter. We are extremely happy to be able to help these two boaters and bring them to safety.”