Coast Guard, Good Samaritan respond to capsized vessel off Niantic Bay, Conn.

united states coast guard 

News Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 1st District PA Detachment New York
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment New York
Office: (212) 514-4291
After Hours: (917) 703-0983
PA Detachment New York online newsroom

Coast Guard, Good Samaritan respond to capsized vessel off Niantic Bay, Conn.

NEW YORK — The Coast Guard and a good Samaritan rescued four people from a capsized vessel near Niantic Bay, Connecticut, Saturday.

 

At approximately 10:53 a.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound command center received a call via VHF-FM radio channel 16 that a 21-foot pleasure craft was taking on water with four people aboard. 

 

Sector Long Island Sound watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and diverted two 29-foot Response Boat – Small boatcrews to assist the 21-foot pleasure craft.

 

In less than five minutes, at 10:58 p.m., a good Samaritan who heard the urgent marine information broadcast arrived on scene. The good Samaritan took four people aboard their boat and Station New London and Waterford Police Department arrived on scene shortly after. 

 

All four people were wearing life jackets and safely transferred to the Niantic Boat Ramp with no reported injuries.

 

The capsized vessel has been marked as a navigational hazard and the owner is working with commercial salvage to remove it. 

 

The Coast Guard reminds boaters to always wear a life jacket. The number one cause of boating fatalities is drowning, most often by sudden, unexpected entry into the water. Wearing a life jacket increases the chances of surviving a boating accident.

-USCG-