PHOTO AVAILABLE: Coast Guard assists 2 aboard vessel taking on water near South Padre Island, Texas

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 05/15/2022 07:22 PM EDT

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 News Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 8th District Public Affairs Detachment Texas
Contact: 8th District Public Affairs Detachment Texas
Office: 281-464-4810
After Hours: 832-293-1293
PA Detachment Texas online newsroom

Coast Guard assists 2 aboard vessel taking on water near South Padre Island, Texas

A 24-foot Special Purpose Craft–Shallow Water boat crew from Coast Guard Station South Padre Island, Texas, tows a flooded pontoon boat in the Laguna Madre, Texas, May 15, 2022. A good Samaritan called the station at 1:50 p.m. and notified Coast Guard personnel that two people aboard the pontoon boat were in need of assistance. (U.S. Coast Guard photo, courtesy Station South Padre Island)

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Coast Guard assisted two boaters aboard a vessel taking on water near South Padre Island, Texas, Sunday.

Coast Guard Station South Padre personnel received a phone call at 1:50 p.m. from a good Samaritan assisting two people aboard a 20-foot pontoon boat taking on water 500 yards offshore in the Laguna Madre. 

A 24-foot Special Purpose Craft–Shallow Water boat crew launched from Station South Padre Island, arrived on scene and took the vessel in tow. 

The crew safely towed the pontoon boat to Isla Blanca Boat Ramp.

“This case exemplifies the importance of boaters staying vigilant and looking out for each other on the water," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Alfredo Benavidez, coxswain for the case. "We want to give today's good Samaritan a shout-out for being so willing to help fellow boaters out of a dangerous situation."

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-USCG-