7th Coast Guard District
U.S. Coast Guard
Video Release
**Video Available** Coast Guard rescues elderly couple, dog 50-miles offshore
CLEARWATER, Fla. - A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter crew rescued an elderly couple and their dog off their vessel while it was taking on water approximately 50-miles west of Cedar Key, Fla., Friday afternoon.
Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders were notified at 7:20 a.m. Friday by the Captain of the Splash of Lime, 59-foot pleasure craft, reporting his vessel was taking on water and he was unable to control it.
Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater launched a Jayhawk crew who arrived on scene and lowered a dewatering pump with a rescue swimmer to help expedite the dewatering process. During the dewatering process the Jayhawk had to return to base to refuel, while refueling the Coast Guard was notified that flooding was once again uncontrollable.
Air Station Clearwater launched the helicopter again to the vessels location and safely hoisted the man, woman and dog. They were transferred to Air Station Clearwater where local emergency medical services personnel were waiting.
The Coast Guard Cutter Marlin is enroute to the vessel to determine the plausibility of dewatering and salvaging the vessel as it was the saved couples place of residence.
No injuries were reported.
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