A small boat crew from the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bernard C. Webber approaches 10 people on top of an overturned vessel April 9, 2016. All 10 people were safely embarked by the Bernard Webber crew and transferred to RBDF in Freeport, Bahamas. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bernard C. Webber crew embarks people rescued from a sinking vessel southwest of Freeport, Bahamas on April 9, 2016. No medical concerns were reported. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
An Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew locates 10 people on top of an overturned vessel southwest of Freeport, Bahams, on April 9, 2016. All 10 people were safely embarked by the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bernard C. Webber crew and transferred to RBDF in Freeport, Bahamas. U.S. Coast Guard video.
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MIAMI — Ten people were rescued from a 30-foot vessel that was taking on water southwest of Freeport, Bahamas, Saturday.
Coast Guard 7th District watchstanders received a request for assistance from the Royal Bahamas Defense Force around 7:30 a.m., Saturday, regarding a vessel taking on water. The vessel reportedly capsized around 4 a.m., Saturday.
Watchstanders diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Bernard C. Webber and launched a Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft crew to search for the vessel. The aircraft crew located the overturned vessel with 10 people clinging to the hull at approximately 12 p.m., Saturday. The Bernard C. Webber crew arrived on scene, safely embarked all 10 people and transferred them to RBDF in Freeport, Bahamas, with no reported medical concerns.
The 10 survivors are believed to be migrants trying to get the United States from the Bahamas.
"Coast Guard missions and operations in the Southeast remain unchanged," said Capt. Mark Fedor, chief of response for the Coast Guard 7th District. "The Coast Guard strongly discourages attempts to illegally enter the country by taking to the sea. These trips are incredibly dangerous."
For more information on how to legally immigrate to the U.S., call U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at 1-800-375-5283 or visit the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov.
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