CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Three people were rescued by Coast Guard crews after their boat ran aground in the Arroyo Colorado delta, 22 miles north of Port Isabel, Tuesday evening.
A man aboard the grounded boat contacted Coast Guard Station South Padre Island with his cell phone at 4:17 p.m., stating their 26-foot recreational boat was aground with three people aboard and they were unsure of their location.
Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders were able to locate the boaters position by contacting the cell phone carrier, who was able to get the cell phone’s last GPS location.
The watchstanders launched rescue crews aboard a Coast Guard Station South Padre Island 24-foot Special Purpose Craft – Shallow Water and a Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi MH-65 Dolphin helicopter.
The helicopter rescue crew located them at 8:34 p.m., in a foot of water in the Arroyo Colorado delta. They landed near the boat, picked up the three people and transported them to Harlingen Airport, where they were met by EMS.
“These boaters were very lucky to be within cell phone range. The Coast Guard strongly urges mariners to carry a reliable VHF radio, local charts, and a GPS device on board,” said Cmdr. Dan Deptula, response officer at Sector Corpus Christi. “Additionally, boaters should file a float plan with a friend or neighbor with a time to expect you to return, as well as the location where you will be boating.“
