CG rescues beached elderly duo

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard rescued two 70-year-old men from an overdue 25-foot vessel that departed from Bay St. Louis, Miss., on June 5. The vessel was found beached on Freemason Island, La., on June 7. Coast Guard Sector Mobile, Ala., directed the launch of an HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew from CG Aviation Training Center at Mobile to search for the duo. The CG later received a report from an oil rig helicopter crew about a capsized vessel on Freemason Island with two people on land waving their hands. CG Mobile then launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from CG Air Station New Orleans to rescue the men. The helo crew landed on the island, recovered the men, and transported them to Stennis (Miss.) International Airport in stable condition. “This is a great example of how filing a float plan can save your life,” said Lt. Alex Gomez, a search and rescue mission coordinator at Sector Mobile. A float plan can simply mean telling a friend or family member about plans for departing and returning home … "that vital information can be relayed to the proper authorities so we can, like today, rescue those in need as quickly as possible.” he said. (Coast Guard 06/07/19)