HOUSTON — The Coast Guard rescued five people from a capsized vessel near Freeport, Texas, Wednesday.
Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston command center watchstanders received a report at 9:30 p.m. of an overdue 22-foot pleasure craft with five people aboard.
Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast, directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew, and a Coast Guard Station Freeport 45-foot Response Boat–Medium crew.
After entering the search area, the RB–M crew sighted a flare and was vectored into the position of the capsized vessel by the HC-144 aircrew.
Once on scene, the boat crew sighted the people in the water near the capsized vessel, all wearing life jackets. They approached, embarked the boaters, and safely transferred them to awaiting EMS at the Bridge Bait Marina near Freeport.
No injuries were reported.
"This case highlights the excellent coordination and communication between multiple Coast Guard units, which led the detection of the overturned vessel and the safe recovery of all five distressed mariners," said Lt. Cmd. Matthew Spado, the search and rescue mission coordinator. "It also should serve as a reminder of the importance of wearing your life jacket, having proper emergency distress equipment onboard at all times and making sure a friend or family member knows your float plan."
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- USCG -