ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — The Coast Guard rescued two children and two adult jet skiers who were stranded in the mud Wednesday near Great Sound in Cape May County.
A helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City hoisted the four individuals with no reported injuries and brought them to Cape May Airport.
The stranded jet skiers called 911 for assistance at approximately 11 a.m. Command center personnel at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay, in Philadelphia, received a request for Coast Guard assistance from the Middle Township Police Department at approximately 1:15 p.m.
“When I stepped off the grass into the mud — even with my mud shoes on — I still sunk right in up to my knees," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Andrew Wagner, the rescue swimmer on the case. "I realized with those mud shoes you have to be very deliberate and put your feet flat, then I was able to get across. If you’re not careful you’ll go right in.”
The aircrew determined the best way to conduct the hoist was by sending one adult and one child together at a time for a total of two basket hoists, said Wagner.
“They had already been out there since 10:30 a.m. and they didn’t have any water so it would’ve gotten to the point where there might have been some medical issues, had we not gotten them out of there.”
A boat crew from Coast Guard Station-Small Townsend Inlet aboard a 24-foot Special Purpose Craft — Shallow Water vessel also assisted in the case.