SUSSEX COUNTY, Del. - A Coast Guard crew from the Indian River Inlet was called out to a rescue at sea. On Sunday, they rushed to a fishing boat with seven people on board that was in distress, 70 miles off of Ocean City. That mission was a success because of their training.
“Weather picked up off shore, as it can, and we had a report of 8 to 10 foot seas, and we had a report of some injuries, and the vessel was disabled,” said Chief Andrew Knox, officer in charge at Station Indian River.
A 47 foot motor lifeboat assisted crews from air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
"The jayhawk did arrive on scene prior to the lifeboat getting there, and they pulled all seven survivors off the boat, and brought them back to shore,” said Chief Knox.
Knox says during the busy summer season, Coastguard men and women at Station Indian River respond to at least one call a day.
"We have a tiered training approach. The pinnacle of that being the team leader which is the coxswain, the boat operator, that person has probably gone through no less than 3 years of specific boat training to do that job,” said Knox.
Coast Guard members go through an 8 week boot camp at Cape May, which is similar to basic military training.
If you plan to get on a boat this summer, the number one safety tip is to wear a life vest.
Short's Marine sells devices to signal distress and life vests. It also makes sure boaters know the latest rules, like the kill switch.
“If the person driving the boat falls away from the helm or falls overboard, it kills the motor so the boat doesn't keep continuing without them being on it,” said David Tuttle, accessories manager at Short’s Marine.
The safety precautions the sport fishing boat took may have been the key in saving their lives.
"Boaters going offshore, it’s inherently dangerous, this boat in particular, had all of the right safety gear, they were able to indicate their distress with the satellite beacon as well as the radio,” said Knox.
The Coast Guard says the more prepared you are if the worst happens, the more equipped they will be to help you. When a call for distress goes out, they move every asset they possibly can to assist the rescue.
The seven people pulled from that boat on Sunday were not injured. Chief Knox says watching the weather is extremely important. If your boat does not have communications equipment, he says to leave a float plan with family and friends.