Coast Guard, Texas Parks and Wildlife rescue 8 after boat collision near Port Aransas jetties

united states coast guard

 News Release  

Mar. 25, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 8th District
Contact: LT Karl Alejandre
After Hours: (361) 438-0176

Coast Guard, Texas Parks and Wildlife rescue 8 after boat collision near Port Aransas jetties

 


 Video of rescue and medevac

Editors' Note: Click on images to download high resolution video.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A Coast Guard helicopter crew medevaced a man and seven others were rescued from the water by Coast Guard crews, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department crews, and good Samaritans after a boating incident involving two boats near the Port Aransas jetties Saturday.

At 9:35 a.m., the Port Aransas Police Department called Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders and reported that locals had seen two people in the water near the jetties due to a boat collision. A Coast Guard Station Port Aransas small boat crew, Air Station Corpus Christi MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department boat crew responded to the scene.

It was reported that a rogue wave capsized one boat and another boat collided with it. The aircrew medevaced an 85-year-old man to EMS at Mustang Beach Airport. He reportedly suffered a severe hip injury and compound fracture from the collision. Four people from the second boat involved in the collision were able to right their boat and help others in the water.

Through combined efforts, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Coast Guard boat crews, and four people on the second boat involved in the collision were able to rescue everyone from the water.

The crew that righted their capsized boat was able to get back underway. An HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew is scheduled to perform an overflight to assess pollution concerns for the sunken boat.

-USCG-