Coast Guard rescues 3 from sunken boat

Apr 8th, 2011 · Comments Off

In this file photo, a Coast Guard crew from Station Chincoteague, demonstrates the capabilities of the 24-foot Special Purpose Craft - Shallow Water in the Elizabeth River near Portsmouth, Va., Friday, Nov. 21, 2008. The SPC-SW, a new asset intended to operate in areas that other response boats cannot reach, will enhance capabilities for search and rescue, law enforcement, and Homeland Security missions. (U.S. Coast Guard photo/Petty Officer 3rd Class Mark Jones)

24-foot Special Purpose Craft - Shallow Water (USCG File Photo )

PENSACOLA, Fla. — The Coast Guard rescued three men after their boat sank,Thursday, in the Pensacola Pass near the Pensacola Lighthouse.

Rescued were John Hinojosa, Bruce Yates and Ted Woody.

At approximately 4:40 p.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Station Pensacola received a call via cell phone from one of the three men in distress, who reported that their 26-foot cuddy cabin vessel sank in shallow water. The three men reportedly headed out to go fishing around 4:30 p.m., when their boat began to list and then sank.

A Coast Guard Station Pensacola 24-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water response boat (SPC-SW) and crew arrived on scene within minutes of the initial distress call and brought the men back to the station.

Only one of the three men was wearing a life jacket when rescuers arrived.

The three reported no injuries or medical concerns.

“Their boat had apparently sunk straight down in waist-deep water, and the hull was on the bottom,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Phillip Gennuso, a member of the Coast Guard rescue crew.

Emergencies come without warning, so the Coast Guard recommends properly wearing a life jacket at all times while on the water as it will help increase your chances of survival during an unforeseen incident.