3 Rescued Off Coast Of St. Marys
Coast Guard Responds To Overturned Fishing Boat 20 Miles At Sea
POSTED: Sunday, June 28, 2009
UPDATED: 10:45 pm EDT June 28,
2009
ST. MARYS, Ga. -- Three boaters were rescued Sunday morning off the coast of St. Marys, Ga., after their fishing boat capsized. The boat overturned about 20 miles east of the coast.
Two separate crews from two Coast Guard stations, including a 47-foot boat from Coast Guard Station Mayport, responded to aid the boaters.
Authorities said Kevin Gilman, 25, Allan White, 48, and Lawrence White, 44, were all out fishing when their boat overturned. Two of the men made their way onto the floating hull, while another remained in the water until rescue crews arrived at the scene.
A representative said the Coast Guard received a distress signal from the boat's emergency position indicating radio beacon, more commonly known as an EPIRB.
A helicopter crew from Coast Guard station Savannah hoisted the man from the water, and the rescue boat crew rescued the two men from the capsized boat's hull. The survivors were taken to a local marina, where they were reported to be in good condition.
Coast Guard officials said this is the second rescue in two days where an EPIRB played a pivotal role in a rescue. Nine boaters were rescued Friday and Saturday, and rescuers credited their EPIRB in aiding in their location.
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