CHRISTIANSTED — The U.S. Coast Guard rescued two boaters from the sea about 32 miles south of St. Croix on Thursday.
According to the Coast Guard, the crew of the sailing vessel, Summer Star, notified Coast Guard Sector San Juan watchstanders at approximately 6:48 a.m. that they had abandoned their sinking ship and were on a life raft in the water.
A Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew arrived on scene, hoisted the two people and then took them ashore for emergency medical services here.
The Coast Guard did not identify the two boaters.
“This rescue demonstrates the importance of having the right type of emergency equipment,” said Petty Officer First Class Andres Perez, the operations specialist who coordinated the rescue. “It was the EPIRB that notified our rescue center when the persons aboard did not have time to broadcast a mayday prior to abandoning ship, and because of the mariner’s preparation we were able to establish communication and coordinate a quick and successful rescue.”