Fort Myers Beach, Fla — The Coast Guard rescued four people from the water after their 22-foot boat capsized two miles west of Sanibel Island, Florida, Monday.
At 2:32 p.m. watchstanders from Coast Guard Station Fort Myers Beach received a report via VHF-FM radio channel 16 from a good Samaritan reporting four people were in the water after their 22-foot boat capsized. Three of the four people were wearing life jackets. The good Samaritan was able to provide the fourth person with a life jacket, and remained on scene until emergency responders arrived.
A 2:40 p.m. a 29-foot Response Boat-Small II boatcrew from the station was launched, arrived on scene, and pulled the people out of the water.
The people were being transported to Sanibel Harbor Marina with no reported injuries.
“Unfortunately a life jacket always seems to be a secondary thought when boaters leave the dock,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Jacob Aping, an officer of the day at the station. “When it comes to a treacherous situation on the water, a lifejacket is the difference between life and death. It should always be worn.”