CORRECTION: Coast Guard assists man aboard sinking boat 7 miles east of Deltaville, VA

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 12/19/2018 07:23 PM EST

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U.S. Coast Guard 5th District Mid-Atlantic
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CORRECTION: Coast Guard assists man aboard sinking boat 7 miles east of Deltaville, VA

A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Station Milford Haven approaches a 24-foot pleasure craft Dec. 19, 2018, seven miles east of Deltaville, Virginia. The station's crew passed over a P-6 dewatering pump and assisted the captain, escorting him back to his residence and personal dock in Broad Creek, Virginia. U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Heilman

Editor's note: click image above for a high-res version

Correction: the responding Coast Guard station has been changed to Station Milford Haven

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard assisted a mariner aboard a 24-foot recreational boat more than seven miles east of Deltaville, Wednesday morning.

The mariner notified Coast Guard Station Milford Haven watchstanders via VHF-FM channel 16 that his boat was taking on water on the Rappahannock River.

A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium rescue crew launched from Station Milford Haven to provide assistance.

The Coast Guard crew used a P-6 dewatering pump to remove water from the vessel and escorted the mariner to Broad Creek.

"Mariners should be prepared for emergencies, because you never know what's going to happen on the water," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Heilman, coxswain for the case. "Bringing a dewatering device can prevent your vessel from sinking."

-USCG-