ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Coast Guard rescued two adults and two children after their 21-foot boat began taking on water east of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in St. Petersburg, Saturday.
At 2:19 p.m. watchstanders from Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, received a cell phone call from a woman stating her 21-foot boat was taking on water. They were reportedly not wearing life jackets.
A 29-foot Response Boat-Small II boatcrew from Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg was launched and arrived on scene at 2:42 p.m. The boatcrew brought one adult and the two children to safety. The other adult remained on the boat, wearing a life jacket. A Coast Guard crewmember went aboard the boat to assess the situation and began dewatering operations.
The boatcrew placed the boat in tow and transported the family and boat to Hula Bay Marina. There were no reported injuries.
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Clearwater, Florida, was also diverted to assist.
"When I initially talked with the woman she sounded panicked, worried they were going to end up in the water," said Petty Officer 2nd class Philip Lengyel, an operations specialist and watchstander at the sector. "I immediately directed everyone to put on life jackets. Fortunately, our boatcrew arrived on scene quickly and four lives were saved."
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