USCG file photo
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The crew of a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter rescued two overdue fishermen Wednesday, approximately 50 nautical miles west northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
Rescued were Rafael Ríos 37, and Antonio Arroyo, 36, residents of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, who reportedly went out on a fishing trip Tuesday morning to an unknown location in the Mona Passage, and they did not return when expected.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Juan were initially contacted at 11:46a.m. Wednesday by Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action F.U.R.A agents, who reported the incident.
Coast Guard watchstanders launched a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew out of Air Station Borinquen, Aguadilla, and they coordinated with U.S. Border Patrol Ramey Sector and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Caribbean Air and Marine Branch agents in Aguadilla to search for the fishermen.
The crew of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Caribbean Air and Marine Branch dash-8 aircraft located the fishermen at 3p.m. Wednesday, disabled and adrift, aboard a 20-foot fishing vessel.
The helicopter crew arrived on scene, deployed their rescue swimmer, and hoisted the fishermen onboard. The fishermen were transported in to Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen in Aguadilla, where they were released to awaiting family members at 4p.m. Wednesday.
