CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Five people were rescued by Coast Guard crews after their pleasure craft overturned in Laguna Madre near South Padre Island, Saturday.
A person aboard the boat contacted Coast Guard Station South Padre Island at 7:40 p.m. stating that their 16-foot boat with five people aboard had overturned five miles north of the Port Isabella Causeway near marker 91.
Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders launched rescue crews aboard a Station South Padre Island 24-foot Special Purpose Craft — Shallow Water and 33-foot Special Purpose Craft — Law Enforcement.
The rescue crews located the five people at approximately 7:50 p.m., picked them up and transported them to Station South Padre Island.
“Our response boat arrived on seen just 10 minutes after the vessel capsized, but that still could have been a long time to tread water,” said Cmdr. Dan Deptula, a Sector Corpus Christi response officer. “Everyone is required to have at least as many lifejackets as there are passengers on their boat, but if a boat capsizes, it can be very difficult to get to them. If you start having boat problems, double check that everyone is wearing their lifejacket in case the unexpected happens.”
