Coast Guard rescues grandfather, granddaughter in Grassy Sound, NJ

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 08/31/2018 12:28 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

Video Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 5th District PA Detachment Atlantic City
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Atlantic City
Office: (609) 813-3888
After Hours: (757) 434-6043
PA Detachment Atlantic City online newsroom

Coast Guard rescues grandfather, granddaughter in Grassy Sound, NJ

Members of Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City pose for a photo with a grandfather and granddaughter they rescued from a stranded personal water craft in Grassy Sound, New Jersey, Aug. 31, 2018. Both people were wearing life jackets when the personal water craft ran aground. An HH-65 Dolphin helicopter crewmember hoists 2 people from an personal watercraft aground in Grassy Sound, New Jersey, Aug. 30, 2018. The passengers, a 79-year-old grandfather, and his 7-year-old granddaughter were unable to be reached by commercial salvage due to the shallow water that surrounded them.

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

CAPE MAY, NJ — A Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued a grandfather and a granddaughter from a personal watercraft that ran aground in Grassy Sound, New Jersey, Thursday evening.

Watchstanders at the Sector Delaware Bay command center in Philadelphia were notified by a commercial salvage company that a 79-year-old male and his 7-year-old granddaughter aboard a 12-foot personal watercraft ran aground, and that they were unable to assist due to shallow water.

Air Station Atlantic City launched an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew to medevac the two people and arrived on scene approximately 30 minutes after initial notification.

After arriving on scene, the helicopter hoisted both the grandfather and the granddaughter and transported them back to Air Station Atlantic City with no reported injuries.

"It's always a great feeling to help people in need," said Lt. Spencer Grinnell, the pilot of the rescue helicopter. "This case was a great example of boaters being prepared and wearing their life jackets on the water, and it was also a great example of other boaters noticing people in distress and reporting it to the Coast Guard so we could assist."

-USCG-