CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A mariner located three overdue boaters Tuesday aground in their recreational boat in the Intracoastal Waterway a few miles south of the mouth of the Arroyo Colorado River.
The men, ages 73, 68 and 54, were located near mile marker 647.
“This was a successful multi-agency search and rescue response between the public and our federal, state, and local partners,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Ian Banks, the command duty officer on watch during the case.
Coast Guard search and rescue coordinators at Sector Corpus Christi organized a joint agency response Monday night after receiving the report of the overdue men aboard a 20-foot recreational boat at 10:19 p.m., during a dense fog advisory in the area.
Working with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Rio Hondo Police Department and area mariners who responded to the notification to be on the lookout, the good Samaritan located the men and assisted getting them free at 1:24 p.m. Tuesday. The wife of one of the men was also passing the word to people leaving the boat ramp to keep a lookout.
Coast Guard crews searched with 33-foot response boats from Station South Padre Island and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Corpus Christi. Texas Parks and Wildlife crews also searched with a boat and the Rio Hondo Police Department located the owner’s vehicle at the Adolf Thomae boat ramp and left a note in case the missing men made it back.
Boaters are reminded to always check the weather forecast and prepare accordingly with appropriate personal protective equipment, always have enough life jackets for everyone aboard, have sufficient and appropriate medical supplies, always carry a marine VHF radio capable of calling for help and have a boating plan and communicate it with friends and family.