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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—The Coast Guard rescued a couple and their two dogs after their 32-foot boat started taking on water 5 miles south of the Gandy Bridge in Tampa, Florida, Monday.
At 4:59 p.m. watchstanders from Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg received an uncorrelated mayday call via VHF-FM marine radio channel 16. Minutes later, watchstanders received a 911 transfer call from Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, of a man stating his boat had run aground earlier and was now taking on water. He stated he was making way to the marina, but water was still flooding into the boat.
A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boatcrew from Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg was launched, arrived on scene at 5:21 p.m., and began dewatering operations. Boatcrew members placed the boat in tow, and transferred the people, their dogs, and their boat Hula Bay Marina, Tampa, Florida.
There were no reported injuries.
"The man made the correct and educated decision to continue making way toward the marina," said Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Timothy C. Kane, the Coast Guard RB-M operator from the station. "And, it was great to see they were wearing their lifejackets, even the dogs were wearing life jackets."