Coast Guard, good Samaritan rescue 3 after helicopter crash west of Anna Maria Island

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 01/02/2019 01:40 PM EST

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 3 after helicopter crash west of Anna Maria Island

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Coast Guard and a good Samaritan rescued three people after a helicopter crash Wednesday near Anna Maria Island. 

A 29-foot Response Boat-Small (RBS) boat crew from Coast Guard Station Cortez was dispatched at 10:55 a.m. after a report of a helicopter crash 2 miles west of Anna Maria Island. 

The good Samaritan rescued all three survivors from the water. 

The RBS boat crew arrived, and transported two crew members to the good Samaritan’s vessel to administer first aid. 

“Through the coordination of the good Samaritan’s, local authorities and crewmen on our boat, we were able to rapidly and safely transport the crash victims to advanced medical care,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Jacob Lettington, the coxswain on the RBS. 

The Coast Guard boat crew provided an escort to Coquina Boat Ramp where emergency medical service personnel were awaiting.

The survivors were brought to Blake Medical Center in Bradenton, Florida. 

-USCG-