NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard rescued six people from a 16-foot pleasure craft last night, 20-miles southwest of New Orleans.
Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans launched a HH-65C Dolphin rescue helicopter crew to assist the boaters. The Coast Guard located the boaters after spotting a flare that was fired from aboard the vessel.
“The U.S. Coast Guard urges boaters to wear a life jacket, carry flares and a working cell phone at all times while underway,” said Lt. Cmdr. Olav Saboe, a Coast Guard helicopter pilot. “Spotting those flares fired from the vessel greatly increased the boaters survivability chances.”
The boaters were safely transported to the Naval Air Station in New Orleans where they were examined and released by a fire rescue team.
