Overdue boaters found, rescued

NEW ORLEANS – It’s been a busy early week for the Coast Guard’s Eighth District. The CG is searching for an overdue vessel with two people aboard Feb. 13; and also medevaced a diabetic and two others from a disabled vessel near New Orleans on the night of Feb. 12. The missing 23-foot Mako commercial fishing boat was last known to be about 10 miles west of the Southwest Pass jetties in the Gulf of Mexico. Missing is Tuan Nguyen, described as being Vietnamese and 5-foot 6-inches. There was no description available for the other person. The CG units from Mobile, Ala., CG Air Station New Orleans, and CG Station Venice, La.’s cutter Vigilant Anyone with information is requested to contact the CG at (800) 874-2153. On Monday, the CG received a telephone call from a man aboard a disabled Boston Whaler with three people aboard, including a diabetic who did not have medication. The CG launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from CG Air Station New Orleans, who medevaced the survivors. The survivors were transferred to University Hospital in New Orleans. (Source: Coast Guard 02/13/18)
UPDATE: The overdue boaters were located clinging to the hull of their capsized vessel by a good Samaritan vessel, Lady Tierny, some 18 miles south-southeast of Port Fourchon, La., on Feb. 13. Lady Tierny transported the survivors to emergency medical services in Port Fourchon.