Boaters rescued near Empire, La.

Five recreational boaters were rescued Oct. 17 by ‘Good Samaritans’ and the Coast Guard after their 20-foot boat started taking on water about 18 miles offshore of Empire, La. – about 45 miles south of Belle Chasse, according to Coast Guard District 8 headquarters. The CG sent out an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from CG Station New Orleans and a 45-foot response boat from Grand Isle. The five people were initially picked up by an offshore support vessel OSV Joseph Bisso that was nearby and heard the distress call. The CG towed the boat back to Grand Isle. (Source: Times-Picayune 10/18/15)