A rescue swimmer with Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater talks with and prepares the survivor of a sunken 36-foot sailing vessel to be hoisted Friday, June 29, 2018 approximately 6 miles southwest of Big Sand Cay, Turks and Caicos. U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Air Station Clearwater
MIAMI — The Coast Guard rescued a mariner Friday from a sinking sailing vessel 6 miles southwest of Big Sand Cay, Turks and Caicos.
Rescued was Robert Petersen, 66, from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
At approximately 9:30 a.m. watchstanders at Coast Guard 7th District Command Center received a 406 megahertz emergency position indicating radio beacon alert from the 36-foot sailing vessel Wings with one mariner aboard. Watchstanders directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, currently deployed in the Bahamas.
The Jayhawk crew located the sailing vessel, hoisted Petersen and transported him to Providenciales, Turks and Caicos at 11:53 a.m. with no reported injuries.
