Rochester – The Coast Guard rescued two adults and four children from a boat taking on water in the vicinity of the Genesee River in Rochester, New York, Friday afternoon.
At about 2 p.m., a watchstander at Coast Guard Station Rochester responded to a distress call that came in over channel 16, the designated international hailing and distress channel, from boaters aboard a 26-foot vessel that was taking on water.
After receiving the call, a rescue boat crew from Station Rochester launched aboard a 47-foot response boat and quickly located the vessel, which was only about 100 yards from the station.
“As we were launching, I instructed the passengers to secure their engine, anchor their boat and put on life jackets,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew Wright, the coxswain of the rescue boat. “By the time we arrived on scene, the flooding, which was coming from a cracked intake hose, had stopped.”
“We recommend all boaters conduct a thorough inspection inside and outside of the boat to make sure it is seaworthy,” said Wright. “The Coast Guard Auxiliary will do it for free and on demand so there is no excuse to not get a vessel safety check.”
The passengers remained on the vessel while it was towed the 100 yards to shore and moored safely.
