CG, Samaritan rescue 19 in Fla.

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard and good Samaritans rescued 19 people in the water in two separate incidents in Santa Rosa Sound, Fla., on May 6. Coast Guard Sector Mobile, Ala., received notification of a vessel with nine people aboard sinking in Choctawhatchee Bay. A good Samaritan boater pulled all nine from the water, but realized his boat was overloaded. Sequentially, the CG got another notice of a second vessel sinking with 10 people in the water. CG Station Destin, Fla., launched a response boat and crew, plus an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from CG Air Station New Orleans was launched. The boat crew took all nine from the good Samaritans boat and transported them to Postal Point at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. A second good Samaritan took the 10 people in the water aboard the vessel ‘Mad Dog’ and delivered them to Postal Point about 7 p.m. There were no reported injuries. (Source: Coast Guard 05/07/17)