MIAMI – The Coast Guard rescued eight people from a sinking catamaran approximately 10-miles east of Elliot Key, Fla., early Monday morning.
Jessica Hamilton, 22, Christian Deschwienitz, 23, Alex Roberts, 21, Becky Roberts, 19, residents of Anchorage, Alaska, Patrick Bronayn, 23, resident of Wasillia, Alaska, Justin Zimmerman, resident of East Hampton, N.Y., and Caleb Walters, 24 and Dan Price, 25 from Colorado Springs, Colo., were all on their way to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., from Port Charlotte, Fla., when their rented 36-foot catamaran began taking on water. They called the Coast Guard at approximately 11 p.m. on Sunday with an urgent call for help.
Search and Rescue coordinators at Coast Guard Sector Miami diverted an HU-25 “falcon” jet and launched an HH-65 “dolphin” helicopter, both from Coast Guard Air Station Miami, along with a 33-foot and 41-foot rescue boat from Coast Guard Station Miami Beach, Fla.
The Falcon crew spotted the catamaran and deployed an inflatable life raft. Within moments, the crew on the 33-foot rescue boat arrived on scene and safely embarked all eight people from the life raft. They were taken to Coast Guard Station Miami where they were reported in good condition.
The survivors had all the required survival gear on the vessel. Aboard the vessel were flares, life jackets and a sound producing device.
It is not known what caused the vessel to begin taking on water and sink.
