JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Three boaters have been rescued approximately 30-miles off the coast of Brunswick, Ga., Tuesday following an extensive three-day search, covering more than 2,700 square miles of water.
A good Samaritan rescued John J. Navaraz, 32, Elijs Navaraz, 31, and Rebecca Sullivan, 28, after the were located floating in the water, approximately 30-miles east of Brunswick, Ga., Tuesday at approximately 1 p.m.
The good Samaritan contacted Coast Guard watchstanders via VHF radio channel 16 at the time of the rescue. The survivors will be transferred aboard 87-foot Coast Guard Cutter Yellowfin and then aboard a 47-foot motor life boat from Coast Guard Station Mayport, Fla., who will transport the three survivors to Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville at Mayport.
The boaters were aboard the 20-foot pleasure craft, Problem Child, and departed the Mayport Boat Ramp Sunday morning to go fishing and were expected back ashore Sunday evening. When they failed to return at the original scheduled time, a family member contacted the Coast Guard. No subsequent attempts to communicate with the boaters proved successful. The Coast Guard immediately launched a search and rescue operation for the missing boaters.
The location of the Problem Child and cause of the incident are not known at this time.
Coast Guard assets involved in the search were:
- The crew of the 87-foot Coast Guard Cutter Yellowfin, homeported in Charleston, S.C.
- A 47-foot rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station Mayport
- The crew of the 270-foot Coast Guard Cutter Bear homeported at Portsmouth, Va.
- An HH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter aircrew from Air Station Savannah, Ga.,
- A C-130 aircrew from Air Station Clearwater, Fla.
