CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A Coast Guard helicopter crew brought a woman, her kids and their dog to safety Tuesday, after their family's boat ran aground near Sunday Beach on Matagorda Island.
"The decision was made to transport the mother, two children and dog from the secluded beach to safety because of the high risk of dehydration, due to the heat and lack of food and water," said Mr. Gary Walker, the command duty officer at Sector Corpus Christi. "It was a call that needed to be made, we could not leave them in that isolated area in those conditions and we're glad they are now safe."
At approximately 2 p.m., a man called watchstanders at Station Port O'Conner stating that his boat ran aground in an isolated location in Pass Cavalla on Matagorda Island and that his wife, two children and dog were aboard with no food or water.
A Station Port O'Connor boatcrew launched to assist and an Air Station Corpus helicopter crew diverted to help if needed. The boatcrew was not able to reach them due to water depth and the helicopter crew landed on the beach to pickup the woman, her sons, 6 and 13, and their Dachshund to Station Port O'Connor. Coast Guard crews provided a loaner radio to the man, while he arranged with commercial salvage and good Samaritans to recover the 24-foot Lake and Bay boat.