IMAGERY AVAILABLE: Coast Guard rescues 2 boaters near Horn Island, Mississippi
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NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard rescued two boaters after they became separated from their vessel near Horn Island, Mississippi, Monday.
Coast Guard Sector Mobile watchstanders received a call at approximately 10:00 a.m. from a Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew reporting a 14-foot aluminum vessel with camouflage exterior adrift in the Horn Island area. Watchstanders coordinated the launch of a Coast Guard Station Pascagoula Response Boat-Small boatcrew to search the vessel.
The boatcrew arrived on scene, located the adrift vessel and boarded it. They reportedly located a cooler which still had ice and personal items including a cell phone and wallet on board.
Using the cellphone and I.D. from the wallet found on board, and with the assistance of local 911 dispatch, the boatcrew and Mobile watchstanders were then able to contact the family of the vessel owner. It was reported that the vessel owner and an acquaintance had become stranded on Horn Island overnight.
Watchstanders diverted a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew that was already airborne to Horn Island to assist in the search for the missing boaters.
The aircrew arrived on scene, located the two boaters, landed on the beach and brought the two persons aboard the helicopter and safely transported them to Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport in Gulfport, Mississippi.
No injuries were reported.
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