Coast Guard rescues fishermen near Avon, N.C.

AVON, N.C. – A Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued two fishermen after their boat sank 14 miles northeast of Avon Wednesday morning.

The fishermen aboard the Rose Mary, a 41-foot wooden shrimper, made a distress call to Sector North Carolina watchstanders on VHF channel 16 stating they were taking on water.

The watchstanders issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast to alert mariners in the vicinity of the fishermen’s distress.

An MH-60J Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City hoisted the two people to safety. The fishermen were transported back to the Air Station in good condition and required no medical assistance.

The fishermen stated the vessel sank in about five minutes and were unable to locate the source of the flooding. The owner will arrange salvage of the vessel.

“Sector North Carolina issued a Safety Marine Information Broadcast to advise mariners on the location of the sunken vessel,” said Senior Chief Petty Officer James Moore, the command duty officer at Sector North Carolina. “Mariners are reminded to take caution while transiting this area and listen for the broadcast on channel 16 and 22 on their marine radio.”


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