The 55- foot sailboat where three men sailed was beset by weather on Friday, 90 miles off the coast of Saint Simons, Georgia. They were saved by the Coast Guards, after receiving the initial reports from a container ship, Bull Hunter.
According to the preliminary informations, loss of steering was cited as the reason for sailboat’s disabled condition. The reports also stated that the three people aboard suffered from dehydration from sea sickness due to heavy seas and winds in excess of 30 knots.
“During any evolution, safety is a top priority for the Coast Guard,” said Lt. Cmdr. Shannon Scaff, chief of planning and readiness for Coast Guard Sector Charleston. “It’s a factor that is constantly evaluated and reevaluated as any operation proceeds. To make the necessary decisions to save a life, it’s matter of identifying and mitigating those inherent risks.”
At first light Friday, an aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Florida, arrived on scene, hoisted the three people and transported them to McKinnon St. Simons Island Airport where they were transferred to local paramedics.
A similar rescue operation was undertaken by Coast Guard on Friday to save a crew member suffering from severe stomach pain. The Coast Guard air crew medevaced the crew member from a container ship off the coast of Savannah.
The man was transported to Savannah Memorial Hospital for further care.
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Source: Coast Guard News
