The crew of a Coast Guard Boat Station San Juan 33-foot Special Purpose Craft — Law Enforcement rescue a man and a woman from the water.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico –The crew of a Coast Guard Boat Station San Juan 33-foot Special Purpose Craft–Law Enforcement response boat rescued two kayakers from the water Sunday in the vicinity of Ceiba, Puerto Rico.
Rescued are two adults, a man and a woman, who reportedly came in distress when they were forced to abandon their kayak after it started taking on water.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Juan, who received a call from a 911 emergency operator Sunday afternoon reporting the situation, proceeded to divert a patrolling Coast Guard 33-foot Special Purpose Craft–Law Enforcement response boat to find and rescue the kayakers. The Coast Guard boat crew arrived on scene and located the man and the woman in the water clinging on to a broken pier. The crew recovered both persons in good health, retrieved the kayak and transported them to Ceiba, where Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action agents received them and provided further assistance.
“We are glad we were able to assist and rescue both kayakers,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Bruce Cheifitz, Boat Station San Juan coxswain. “The crew was able to quickly shift from our patrol to a search and rescue posture and help save two lives. Being a prepared boater will always help your chances for survival. In this case both boaters were wearing lifejackets.”
