HOUSTON — A Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued a man and Galveston Island Beach Patrol rescued two others after their disabled boat drifted onto the South Galveston Jetty Tuesday.
At approximately 7:50 a.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston were notified through a relay call from 911, that three males in their 20's had gone aground in their 27-foot Boston Whaler on the jetties, after the engines died, and they were concerned about capsizing.
Watchstanders launched two boatcrews aboard a 29-foot response boat and a 45-foot response boat from Station Galveston and an aircrew aboard an MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter from Air Station Houston. Galveston Island Beach Patrol arrived and rescued two of the men from the boat. The third man needed additional assistance as the boat was being pushed further over the rocks and he was hoisted by the aircrew and taken to Galveston Airport.
"The Coast Guard would like to urge boaters to take extra precaution when getting out on the water," said Petty Officer 1st Class Ramona Mason, an operations specialist in the command center at Sector Houston-Galveston. "This week is National Safe Boating week and with the busy Memorial Day weekend approaching we want to emphasis the importance of proper planning and the importance of having up to date safety gear aboard your vessel. Luckily in this case, the men all had lifejackets on and had the ability to contact help. Thankfully we were able to get on scene quickly and assist before the environment deteriorated."
Throughout the National Safe Boating Week, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Power Squadrons and state natural resources agencies will offer safe boating classes and free vessel safety checks. To find the location of the nearest Auxiliary flotilla and a schedule of safe-boating classes, please visit their website at www.cgaux.org.
The next boating safety class with the Coast Guard Auxiliary is May 23 in Seabrook, or June 13 in the Upper Kirby area. Apply to classes in Seabrook, or in the Upper Kirby area (Word documents).
In 2014, the Coast Guard counted 4,064 accidents that involved 610 deaths, 2,678 injuries and approximately $39 million dollars of damage to property as a result of recreational boating accidents. Where cause of death was known, 78% of fatal boating accident victims drowned. Of those drowning victims with reported life jacket usage, 84% were not wearing a life jacket.
For more on National Safe Boating Week, please visit http://www.safeboatingcampaign.com. You may also download a PDF of the 2014 Recreational Boating Statistics from uscgboating.org.