Coast Guard rescues 2 boaters after vessel capsizes near Longboat Key

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U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Tampa Bay
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Coast Guard rescues 2 boaters after vessel capsizes near Longboat Key

Coast Guard boatcrew members aboard a 29-foot Response Boat-Small II (RBS) from Station Cortez, Florida, arrive on scene Thursday, June 21, 2018 to assist the rescue of two capsized boaters near Longboat Key. Moments before the RBS crew arrived, a separate boatcrew from Station Cortez rescued the two distressed boaters from the hull of this capsized 31-foot fishing boat and transferred them to Coquina Boat Ramp with no reported injuries. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

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CORTEZ, Fla. — The Coast Guard rescued two boaters Thursday after their vessel capsized 6 miles west of Longboat Key. 

Rescued were Donald Swanson, 60 and Tonda Reeck, 62. 

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Station Cortez received a call from Swanson at 8:38 p.m. via Manatee County Dispatch stating his boat was taking on water and he needed emergency assistance. 

A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium (RBM) boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Cortez was diverted to assist. 

At 8:49 p.m., the RBM crew located the boaters clinging to the hull of their 31-foot fishing boat. After confirming all boaters were accounted for, the boatcrew embarked the two boaters and transported them to Coquina Boat Ramp. 

No injuries were reported. 

Commercial services re-righted the capsized boat and towed it to Bradenton Beach.  

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