CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A Coast Guard aircrew and a good Samaritan rescued 67-year-old Sam Jingles and his wife, 57-year-old Lisa Jingles after they crashed into a mile marker in Baffin Bay early Thursday morning.
At approximately 9:30 a.m., Mr. Jingles was able to get a phone call to local police. They notified Coast Guard Station Port O'Connor watchstanders that two people had been hanging onto their capsized 41-foot center-console boat since colliding with mile marker 26 around midnight.
Mrs. Jingles' phone was submerged and Mr. Jingles' wasn't able to get to his phone, which was in a watertight container, until the sun had risen and they were able to float to shallower water.
Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi watchstanders launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew to rescue them. The aircrew hoisted Mr. Jingles aboard and took him to Spohn Memorial Hospital and a good Samaritan took Mrs. Jingles aboard his boat and took her to the boat ramp at Kaufaur Hubbart Park and then transported her by car to meet with her husband at the hospital.
"I applaud Mr. and Mrs. Jingles for staying with their vessel, it provided floatation and allowed us to find them quickly," said Capt. Tony Hahn, Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi commander. "The Jingles' actions combined with the quick actions of the Sector Corpus Christi Command Center, the helicopter crew and good Samaritan bringing Mrs. Jingles to shore made this a very successful outcome."