Coast Guard Station Yankeetown 27-foot Utility Boat-Medium file photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashley J. Johnson
CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. — The Coast Guard rescued three boaters Thursday who capsized 4 miles west of Crystal River.
While searching for a 71-year-old missing boater, a Coast Guard boatcrew aboard a 27-foot Utility Boat-Medium (UT-M) from Coast Guard Station Yankeetown observed a flare Thursday at 3:32 a.m. near Crystal River.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg command center were notified at 3:15 a.m. by 7th Coast Guard District watchstanders of an Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon activation in the same area and relayed the distress to the UT-M boatcrew.
The UT-M boatcrew diverted to the source of emergency alerts to find three boaters taking on water aboard a 30-foot boat. The boat capsized and all three were recovered by UT-M crew.
“Equipment such as flares, life jackets and an electronic position indicating radio beacons are crucial in capsized vessel situations, and as you can see – played a huge factor in saving these three today,” said Senior Chief Allen Bozeman, officer in charge of Station Yankeetown.
The UT-M crew transferred the boaters to a nearby Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission boatcrew who took the three to awaiting EMS in Crystal River.
No injuries were reported.
For more information about the ongoing search for the missing 71-year-old man, click here.
