GALVESTON, Texas – A helicopter crew with the U.S. Coast Guard rescued a man and the Galveston Island Beach Patrol rescued two others after their disabled boat drifted onto the South Galveston Jetty around 7:50 a.m. Tuesday
Coast Guard officials said they received a relay call from 911 that three men in their 20s had gone aground in their 27-foot Boston Whaler on the jetties. When the engines died, the men were worried about capsizing.
Coast Guard watchstanders sent two crews a 29-foot and 45-foot response boat and an MH-64 Dolphin rescue helicopter and successfully assisted the boaters.
"The Coast Guard would like to urge boaters to take extra precaution when getting out on the water," said Petty Officer 1st Class Ramona Mason, an operations specialist in the command center at Sector Houston-Galveston. "This week is National Safe Boating week and with the busy Memorial Day weekend approaching we want to emphasis the importance of proper planning and the importance of having up to date safety gear aboard your vessel. Luckily in this case, the men all had lifejackets on and had the ability to contact help. Thankfully we were able to get on scene quickly and assist before the environment deteriorated."