MULTIMEDIA RELEASE: Coast Guard rescues stranded boaters from aground vessel near Alviso

News Release

Dec. 5, 2017 U.S. Coast Guard 11th District Pacific Southwest Contact: 11th District Public Affairs Office: (510) 437-3325 After Hours: (510) 772-8865

MULTIMEDIA RELEASE: Coast Guard rescues stranded boaters from aground vessel near Alviso

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SAN FRANCISCO — The Coast Guard rescued two boaters after their vessel ran aground in the south bay near Alviso, Sunday evening. 

At approximately 4:45 p.m., Sunday, a good Samaritan contacted watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Francisco reporting an 18-foot vessel with three people aboard aground near the entrance to Alviso Slough. 

Coast Guard watchstanders established communication with the vessel owner aboard with a cell phone number obtained by Foster City Fire Department. The vessel owner informed the Coast Guard that he planned to wait for high tide to refloat the boat. However, at approximately 7 p.m., the vessel owner reported that his two passengers were cold, wet and concerned about hypothermia. 

An MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco was launched. 

The helicopter crew arrived on scene and hoisted the two passengers, who were transported to Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco with no reported injuries. 

The vessel owner remained aboard, refloated the boat at high tide and moored at Alviso Marina. 

The Coast Guard reminds mariners to dress for the water temperature, not just the air temperature. Cold water robs the body of heat 25 to 30 times faster than air. If a boater falls overboard, his or her core temperature begins to drop within 10 to 15 minutes. Water simply has to be colder than the victim to cause hypothermia. 

-USCG-