Coast Guards and good Samaritans combined to carry out two rescues in the Gulf of Mexico, in Florida – one of which involved flares.
Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders and good Samaritans rescued five people in two separate incidents during National Safe Boating Week at the end of May.
In one, St. Petersburg watchstanders received a Mayday call on VHF-FM Channel 16 and a report from a boater who saw orange distress flares. A Station Sand Key small boat crew and an Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew were called upon to help.
But meanwhile, the good Samaritan who saw the flares, responded, and pulled the three people to safety from the capsized vessel, about 22 miles west of Indian Rocks Beach.
In another incident, watchstanders received an urgent call via VHF-FM Channel 16 from a man who could not locate his two friends who were diving off his boat, about seven miles west of Anclote.
A Station Sand Key small boat crew and an Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew again responded along with two separate good Samaritan boat crew, who located the divers, and brought them aboard.
Petty Officer 1st Class Brian Haley, Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg operations unit watchstander, says, “Good Samaritans are incredibly great assets, especially in cases where the Coast Guard or other responders are not in the immediate area. We are so grateful for the good news of these rescues today and the great work of these outstanding good Samaritans.”
The photo was taken from the Coast Guard helicopter from Air Station Clearwater after the good Samaritan saw the orange flares and is a U.S. Coast Guard photo.
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