| Public Affairs Detachment San Diego, Calif. U.S. Coast Guard |
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| Media Release | Date: February 12, 2005 Contact: Petty Officer Robert K. Lanier |
COAST GUARD UNITS, BAYWATCH COORDINATE ASSETS TO Santa Barbara Island, Calif. - Coast Guard units from San Diego and Los Angeles, and California Baywatch Lifeguards coordinated efforts before dawn this morning to rescue three people after their vessel ran aground on Santa Barbara Island and the crew had to abandon ship. All three people were recovered and transported to Torrence Hospital. Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach received a 4:15 a.m. mayday call from the pleasure craft La Lancha Dolce reporting they had to abandon ship after their 29-foot vessel ran aground at the base of a cliff on Santa Barbara Island. Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach launched an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Los Angeles, and Sector San Diego launched an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter. California Baywatch Lifeguards also responded. When the Dolphin arrived on scene, two of the three crewmembers were on the rocks and one was missing. The Dolphin deployed a Coast Guard rescue swimmer who recovered the person in the water and assisted him to the rocks. Low on fuel, the Dolphin departed scene and returned to their Los Angeles base. The San Diego-based Jayhawk helicopter then deployed their rescue swimmer to recover the three people and the Los Angeles-based rescue swimmer. They were all hoisted into the Jayhawk and the patients were transported to Torrence Hospital. Video of the rescue and interviews with the HH-60 pilot and co-pilot is available and can be picked up at Sector San Diego's front gate, 2710 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego. For more information, contact Lt. Shana Morris, Sector San Diego Public Affairs, at 619-683-6386; or Petty Officer Robert K. Lanier, D11 Public Affairs - San Diego, at 619-683-6552. |
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