Coast Guard rescues three from disabled vessel in Long Island Sound

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Coast Guard rescued three overdue boaters from their 8-foot inflatable boat five miles east of New Haven Harbor, Conn., Monday at approximately 7:30 a.m.

The Coast Guard received a call from Suffolk County Police Department, reporting that Alba Serrano reported her husband, son and nephew had left Rocky Point, N.Y., Sunday at 2 p.m., and were due back at 10 p.m., and had not yet returned.

The Coast Guard immediately launched a 45-foot rescue boat crew from Station New Haven, a 45-foot rescue boat from Station Eaton’s Neck, N.Y., and a MH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter crew from Air Station Cape Cod, Mass. Suffolk County also launched an air and boat search crew to assist in the search.

The Jayhawk rescue crew located the three boaters and safely hoisted them aboard the aircraft. The boaters were taken to Tweed New Haven Airport where EMS was awaiting to transfer them to Yale New Haven Hospital.

Their condition is unknown at this time.

"The Coast Guard would like to remind boaters, in addition to having the proper life saving equipment aboard, to check the weather before heading out to sea," said Petty Officer 1st Class Timothy J. Halverson, watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound command center, New Haven, Conn. "What can start out as a nice day on the water, can end up being a life or death situation with fast moving inclement summer weather."

Safety measures that can save your life are:

• Have your vessel inspected by the Coast Guard Auxiliary or Power Squadron.
• File a float plan with someone who knows when you are leaving and when you plan to be back.
• Make sure you have working sound-producing devices in the event of an emergency in low visibility.
• Ensure flares are up to date and in good working order.

For a comprehensive list of boating safety checklists and instructional information, please visit:http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/default.aspx

For more information on life jacket safety as a part of National Safe Boating Week, take a look at the National Safe Boating Council’s website: http://www.safeboatingcampaign.com/

To file an electronic float plan: www.floatplancentral.org

For a vessel safety check, visit the Coast Guard Auxiliary website at: http://cgaux.org/vsc/