Coast Guard Station Cortez 29-foot Response Boat-Small II file photo by by Seaman Meredith A. Manning
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Coast Guard and a good Samaritan rescued three people after a helicopter crash Wednesday near Anna Maria Island.
A 29-foot Response Boat-Small (RBS) boat crew from Coast Guard Station Cortez was dispatched at 10:55 a.m. after a report of a helicopter crash 2 miles west of Anna Maria Island.
The good Samaritan rescued all three survivors from the water.
The RBS boat crew arrived, and transported two crew members to the good Samaritan’s vessel to administer first aid.
“Through the coordination of the good Samaritan’s, local authorities and crewmen on our boat, we were able to rapidly and safely transport the crash victims to advanced medical care,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Jacob Lettington, the coxswain on the RBS.
The Coast Guard boat crew provided an escort to Coquina Boat Ramp where emergency medical service personnel were awaiting.
The survivors were brought to Blake Medical Center in Bradenton, Florida.
