Coast Guard, good Samaritan rescue 3 from water 10 miles west of Clearwater Pass

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 from water 10 miles west of Clearwater Pass

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Coast Guard and a good Saramintian rescued three people from the water Saturday after their vessel began taking on water 10 miles west of Clearwater Pass.

At 12:15 p.m., Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a 911 relay of a vessel taking on water with three people aboard.

Watchstanders issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast (UMIB) and a Coast Guard Station Sand Key 29-foot Response Boat-Small (RB-S) crew launched to assist. 

While the boat crew was en route, Sea Fighter, a Navy research vessel, responded to the UMIB, recovered the boaters from the water and transferred them to the RB-S.

The RB-S crew transported the boaters to Belleair Causeway Boat Ramp where Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission members were waiting.   

There were no reported injuries.

"Our partnerships out on the water greatly improve rescue and response efforts," said Capt. Matthew Thompson, commander, Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. "We are grateful the Navy crew was able to locate the boaters swiftly and pull them to safety.”

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-USCG-