HOUSTON — Two men were rescued Thursday evening, after their boat capsized from severe weather in northwest Trinity Bay.
A family member of the men contacted watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston, stating that they had a received a brief cell phone call from their father who said they were taking on water and they were going down.
The watchstanders launched an aircrew aboard an MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Houston and a boatcrew aboard a 25-foot response boat from Coast Guard Station Houston.
The aircrew located the survivors sitting atop of their overturned boat at 8:10 p.m. The survivors were hoisted and transferred to Chambers County emergency medical services at RWJ Airpark.
“This story had a happy ending, primarily due to technology,” said Lt. Spencer Roach, a command duty officer at Sector Houston-Galveston. “A severe storm came through during this case, and the original position we received for the boaters was incorrect. Fortunately, their cell phone provider was able to provide a latitude and longitude from the last call, and that’s exactly where they were. If anything, this underscores the need to file a float plan and to let friends and family know your plans before you head out on the water.”
A Coast Guard rescue swimmer escorts one of two rescued men to awaiting EMS after plucking the men from northwest Trinity Bay, near Houston Thursday. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
