Coast Guard, good Samaritans rescue 2 boaters after vessel capsizes off Cape Canaveral

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 06/09/2018 09:08 AM EDT

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News Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Jacksonville
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Jacksonville
Office: 904-714-7606/7607
After Hours: 305-318-1864
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Coast Guard, good Samaritans rescue 2 boaters after vessel capsizes off Cape Canaveral

 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Coast Guard and good Samaritans rescued two boaters Friday after their vessel capsized 9 miles east of Cape Canaveral.

Rescued were Justin Desoto, 33, from Seminole County and Andy Odom.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville were notified at 9 p.m. by Brevard County Sheriff's Office of a 911 hang-up call with no information. Watchstanders obtained the phone's coordinates from BCSO and issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast.

The research vessel Savannah responded to the UMIB and Seminole County Sherriff's Office conducted a wellness check based on information from the phone number registered to Desoto. SCSO spoke with Desoto's wife saying she received a text message stating he needed help offshore.

A Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral 29-foot Response Boat – Small crew and an Air Station Clearwater HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew launched at 10:45 p.m. to assist.

At 11 p.m., the Savannah crew located a capsized vessel with two people in the water. The Savannah crew embarked the two boaters, rendezvoused with the RB-S crew, and the RB-S crew transported the two boaters to Jetty Park.

"You can never underestimate the importance of an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPRIB)," said Bruce Bradley, the lead command center controller at Sector Jacksonville. "When it's activated, the nearest command center is instantaneously notified of your location. You don't have to worry about a cell signal or battery life. Having other options in an emergency can only benefit to a successful rescue."

There were no reported injuries.

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-USCG-