CLEVELAND – U.S. Coast Guard Station Oswego, N.Y. rescued a male and a female from the west breakwall in Oswego Harbor, N.Y., Saturday, at approximately 9:45 a.m.
“They were walking along the breakwall when they fell in the water from six-foot waves,” said Machinery Technician 2nd Class Jason Furman, Station Oswego, Officer-of-the-day. “They were able to climb up the rocks and cling to the wall until we arrived.”
A 25-foot small response boat (RB-S) crew arrived on scene within a few minutes to bring the pair back to the station safely.
Emergency Medical Services took both of them to Oswego Hospital, where they were treated for mild hypothermia.
A fisherman from the vessel Lucky Dutchman contacted the Coast Guard on channel 16 when he observed two people stranded on the breakwall.
The man and the woman, who are both students at State University of New York Oswego, planned to visit the Oswego Lighthouse.
The Coast Guard encourages mariners to invest in a VHF-FM radio as their primary means of distress alerting on the water. Communication via VHF-FM radio provides superior alerting capabilities over cellular phones.
When a MAYDAY is sent out via VHF-FM radio it is a broadcast, not just one party is receiving the distress call; any nearby boaters can hear the distress call and offer immediate assistance.
In addition, the Coast Guard reminds everyone who recreates in or near the water to always wear a life jacket. It is much more difficult to locate, access or don a PFD at the moment the accident occurs.
