USCG file photo
Medevaced was Benjamin Reavis, 21, a student of the Merchant Marine Academy in King’s Point, N.Y.
After the incident, Reavis was transferred from a 44-foot Naval Academy sailboat to a 20-foot Navy rigid hull inflatable boat that was en route to Coast Guard Station Annapolis when the boat began having engine trouble. Rick Dominique, the off-shore sailing coach for the Merchant Marine Academy, then contacted Station Annapolis via marine-band radio at 1:57 p.m.
A 25-foot Response Boat-Small crew from Station Annapolis was dispatched. The Coast Guard rescue crew located Reavis, transferred him onto the RB-S and took him to Station Annapolis, where he was met by awaiting EMS.
Reavis was then transported to Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis.
The incident happened very close to our station, which allowed us to get on scene within 10 minutes from the time we were notified,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class John Drohan-Clarke, the officer of the day at Station Annapolis.
The Coast Guard urges mariners to outfit their boat with a functioning marine-band radio. Using channel 16 on a marine-band radio is the most reliable way to communicate a distress to search and rescue personnel in the event of an emergency while on the water.
