Four mariners in a boat taking on water at night in Tampa Bay, Florida, were rescued after firing flares.
Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg received reports of two red flares being fired near Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Just minutes later, a 911 call reported a vessel taking on water and a Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crew was also sent to help.
A Hillsborough County Sheriff helicopter located the four mariners clinging to the hull of the overturned boat. The Coast Guard boat took the mariners to Harborage Marina and medical personnel found they were unhurt.
Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Alex Dominicci, the Sector’s Command Duty Officer, says, “It started off as a flare sighting, then a 911 call, which diverted a Hillsborough County helicopter who spotted the mariners so we could pick them up. It was a great multi-agency response and was well executed.”
The image is courtesy of US District 7.
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