Coast Guard rescues 4 boaters off coast of Georgia

Larry Kirkland, 35, of Greer, S.C., is seen holding a Personal Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon more commonly known in the maritime community as a PPIRB, Saturday May 14, 2011. The PPIRB was instrumental in the successful rescue of Kirkland and three others after a 35-foot boat they were aboard had capsized 15 miles off the coast of Cumberland Island, Ga. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Christopher Evanson

Larry Kirkland is seen holding a Personal Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon (PPIRB). The PPIRB was instrumental in the successful rescue of Kirkland and three others after a boat they were aboard had capsized. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Christopher Evanson

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Coast Guard rescued 4 boaters 14-miles off the coast of Cumberland Island, Ga., Saturday, after a 25-foot sport boat they were aboard capsized.

 

Rescued were: JoLynn Kirkland, 53, Keith Kirkland, 62, of Easley, S.C., Larry Kirkland, 35, and Rodney Proffit, 62, of Greer, S.C.

The Coast Guard received a mayday call over VHF channel 16, followed by an Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon notification after the boaters’ 25-foot Hydro Sport capsized. They were all wearing life jackets.

The crew of the 87-foot Coast Guard Cutter Sea Dog arrived on scene and rescued the boaters approximately 14 miles northeast of Cumberland Island, Ga. All four boaters were transferred to a Coast Guard Station Mayport 45-foot rescue boat crew.

Also involved in the case was the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office and Nassau County Sheriff’s Office.


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