| Office of Public Affairs U.S. Coast Guard Seventh District |
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| Press Release |
Date: July 13, 2004 Contact: 305 415-6683 or 787 510-7923 |
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CAPSIZING SURVIVOR TRANSFERRED ASHORE **UPDATE: PHOTOS/VIDEO AVAILABLE** BORINQUEN, Puerto Rico - One migrant found on Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico, more than three miles from the overturned migrant boat he was on, was transferred to the U.S. Border Patrol by the crew of a Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopter this afternoon. He received a medical screening by a Coast Guard Corpsman upon arrival, and was transferred to local emergency medical services. The migrant was located this morning by a searching aircraft. ICE AMO (Immigration and Customs Enforcement Air and Marine Operations), Coast Guard and local law enforcement continue to search for up to 18 people reported missing from the capsized migrant boat found three miles northwest of Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico last night. So far search efforts have also resulted in the discovery of one body in the water this morning and the rescue of 12 migrants clinging to the overturned boat last night. The massive search effort began last night when a patrolling ICE AMO aircraft located the capsized vessel shortly after 8:00 p.m. The Coast Guard Greater Antilles Section was notified and diverted the Coast Guard Cutters Cushing and Venturous, which arrived on scene about 35 minutes later and immediately began recovering migrants found clinging to the boat's hull. The search so far has included two Coast Guard cutters, a Forces United for Rapid Action boat, and several sorties of planes and helicopters from both the Coast Guard and ICE AMO. The capsized boat, a 29-foot open fisherman with twin 150-hp outboard engines, fits the description of a boat reported stolen from Bahia Beach, Dominican Republic yesterday morning. Of those rescued so far, 11 were male and two female. CGC Cushing is a 110-foot Patrol Boat based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. CGC Venturous is a 210-foot Medium Endurance Cutter based in St. Petersburg, Fla. ### Editor's Note: A video of the survivor being transferred from the Coast Guard helicopter to the Border Patrol is available for pick-up at the Seventh District Headquarters, Brickell Plaza Federal Building, 909 SE 1st Ave. or Coast Guard Greater Antilles Section in San Juan. The below photos are available in high-resolution for publication. Please contact 305 415-6683 to be e-mailed a copy.
Seaman Anthony Lucar (left), Seaman Brandon Shortencarrier (right) and Seaman Kyle Meyers (back) tend to a recently-rescued migrant suffering from a fractured leg on the Coast Guard Cutter Venturous out of St. Petersburg, Fla. She is one of 13 survivors located from a capsized migrant boat carrying migrants from the Dominican Republic. One body has been located, and based on information from the survivors, between seven and 18 remain missing. Since Oct. 1, 2003, the Coast Guard has rescued more than 5,400 migrants in the Mona Pass. Forty-two are known to have died in that period. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Danielle DeMarino.
Storekeeper First Class George Beltran of the Coast Guard Cutter Venturous, based in St. Petersburg, Fla., consoles and interviews a migrant after his vessel capsized in the Mona Pass. He is one of 13 survivors located. One body has been found, and based on information from the survivors, between seven and 18 remain missing. Since Oct. 1, 2003, the Coast Guard has rescued more than 5,400 migrants in the Mona Pass. Forty-two are known to have died in that period. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Danielle DeMarino. The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the |
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