Coast Guard, good Samaritan rescue sinking boater near John's Pass

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 07/07/2018 05:20 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

News Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Tampa Bay
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Tampa Bay
305-965-4672
PA Detachment Tampa Bay online newsroom

Coast Guard, good Samaritan rescue sinking boater near John's Pass

SAND KEY, Fla. — The Coast Guard and a good Samaritan rescued a boater Saturday after his 21-foot boat started to sink 21 miles west of John's Pass.

At 11:36 a.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg received a Mayday via VHF-FM radio channel 16 from the distressed boater. 

Watchstanders diverted an Air Station Clearwater HC-130 Hercules airplane crew, launched a boatcrew aboard 45-foot Response Boat-Medium from Station Sand Key and issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast via VHF-FM radio channel 16.  

At about 1:25 p.m., the Hercules aircrew located the distressed boater and dropped a dewatering pump. A good Samaritan responded to the UMIB and helped the operator dewater his boat. 

The RBM boatcrew arrived at 2:42 p.m., completed the dewatering, and towed the boat to the Seminole Boat Ramp. 

No injuries were reported.

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-USCG-