Coast Guard, Puerto Rico Police, Good Samaritans rescue 5 stranded jet skiers just off Guayama, Puerto Rico

News Release

Dec. 21, 2017 U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Contact: Coast Guard Puerto Rico PA Office Office: 787-729-2381 After Hours: 787-510-7923

Coast Guard, Puerto Rico Police, Good Samaritans rescue 5 stranded jet skiers just off Guayama, Puerto Rico

 

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

The crew of a Coast Guard MH-65D Dolphin helicopter takes a photo with four of five jet skiers who were rescued Dec. 17, 2018, after their jet skies ran aground in waters just off Punta Pozuelos in Guayama, Puerto Rico.  The fifth jet skier was a man who was rescued by Good Samaritans aboard the vessel Nahoriel.

 

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A Coast Guard aircrew, Puerto Rico Police and a Good Samaritan combined efforts Sunday night to rescue five stranded jet skiers, two men and three women, in waters just off “Punta Pozuelos” in Guayama, Puerto Rico.

Watch standers with the Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Center were contacted approximately 6:30 p.m. by a 911 emergency service operator, who relayed a distress call from one of the stranded jet skiers. 

The man reported his jet ski had run aground near “Cayos Caribe” and that the two passengers aboard his jet ski had fallen into the water and drifted out of sight.  The man also reported losing sight of a second jet ski that was boating with him, which had two other people onboard.  All jet skiers were reportedly wearing life jackets.

The watch standers launched a Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-65D helicopter crew to search for the distressed jet skiers, and alerted Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action F.U.R.A. and Puerto Rico Emergency Management Agency personnel of the developing situation.

Good Samaritans aboard the vessel Nahoriel, also went out to search after a responding F.U.R.A. maritime unit from Guayama notified them of the ongoing distress.  The Good Samaritans located and recovered the first stranded jet skier at approximately 8:30 p.m., and also helped vector-in the Coast Guard helicopter into the area.  Moments thereafter, the Coast Guard crew located the four remaining jet skiers waving flashlights from a reef just off “Cayos de Barca.”  The helicopter crew deployed their rescue swimmer and hoisted the survivors onboard.

"We are very grateful for the assistance of a nearby vessel whose accurate reporting allowed us to locate the four individuals very quickly,” Lt. Jake Conrad, Air Station Borinquen MH-65 Dolphin helicopter pilot.  “It is an important reminder to understand the environment in which you are operating and always have appropriate personal protective equipment.  I'm glad we were able to safely recover everyone involved."

The helicopter crew transported to the four jet skiers to the Mercedita Airport in Ponce, Puerto Rico, where they were transferred to Emergency Medical Service personnel who assessed their condition and provided first aid to the survivors.

 

 

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-USCG-