Editor's note: All Coast Guard Southeast imagery can be found on DVIDS, here.
CLEARWATER, Fla. — A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission marine crew rescued four people, Wednesday, at approximately 9:15 p.m., after their boat started taking on water about 1 mile off Hernando Beach.
The people were reported in good condition.
911 dispatch alerted Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders of multiple flares being sighted and a boat with four people aboard taking on water.
The Jayhawk aircrew located the distressed vessel, hoisted two of the boaters onto the helicopter, and transported them to Air Station Clearwater to meet emergency medical services. FWC officers rescued the remaining two people and brought them to shore.
The vessel was salvaged, Thursday, and is not a hazard to navigation.
“The proper use of the flares is what helped save these people,” said Chief Petty Officer Aaron Bolton, a command duty officer at Sector St.Petersburg. “It’s always important to have more than one communication device while underway because cell phone coverage isn’t reliable offshore, and to make sure your flares aren’t expired.”
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