HOUSTON – The Coast Guard rescued two of the three people onboard a disabled sailboat near Baycliff, Texas, early Thursday night.
A watchstander from Coast Guard Sector Houston/Galveston received a call for help from the sailboat Paradise. The boat was at anchor because the sails were damaged during the evening’s high winds. The Paradise did have a small outboard engine but it was unable to make way because of the high seas.
Coast Guard Air Station Houston launched a rescue helicopter and crew to hoist the three people onboard. The helicopter lowered the rescue swimmer into the cold water to pick the men up. After two of the men were safely hoisted into the helicopter, the sailboat slammed into a pier after drifting more than a mile. The third man onboard was able to climb up onto the pier.
The Coast Guard rescue swimmer sustained minor bruises during the rescue but no major injuries were reported.
