CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued three people off San José Island after their 19-foot boat capsized Sunday.
Coast Guard watchstanders were notified around 10:45 a.m. that a boat had capsized approximately 7 miles north of the Port Aransas jetties. A fisherman had witnessed three people enter the water and safely swim ashore to an island.
San José Island has no access to the mainland and no one was able to safely assist them by boat. Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and crew just after noon. The aircraft landed on the island and rescued the three people. The survivors were brought back to Naval Air Station Corpus Christi with no reported injuries.
The three adult males were visiting from San Antonio and were transported by the Coast Guard back to their hotel in Port Aransas.
“They were happy to see us and get off that island,” said Lt. Keith Thomas, the helicopter pilot. “I am glad they were safe and healthy.”
There was no observed pollution by the vessel. The boat has become beached and it will be the owner’s responsibility to recover the vessel.
