Coast Guard, partner agency rescue 2 boaters 18 miles off Pass-a-Grille Beach

September 6, 2024

personal locator beacon

CLEARWATER, Fla. —  A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater aircrew and Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies rescued two adults, Friday, after their 26-foot boat capsized 18 miles off Pass-a-Grille Beach.

No injuries were reported.

Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office dispatch contacted Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders at 12:08 p.m., reporting two mariners in distress.

Using the signal from one of the survivor’s personal locator beacon, the aircrew located both people wearing life jackets. The aircrew hoisted one individual from their partially submerged vessel, and the deputies retrieved the other survivor. Both boaters were transported to Bay Pines Boat Ramp.

“The boaters in distress carried a crucial piece of lifesaving equipment we encourage the public to carry onboard their vessel,” said Lt. Dave Strojny, MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircraft commander. “Life jackets, an EPIRB, a PLB, visual signaling devices and a marine grade radio with VHF-FM channel 16 improve our Coast Guard crews’ abilities to locate mariners in distress.”

The owner is coordinating vessel recovery with commercial salvage.

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