| Office of Public Affairs U.S. Coast Guard Seventh District |
|
|
| Press Release |
Date: July 13, 2004 Contact: LTjg Eric Willis |
|
SEARCH EFFORT LOCATES ANOTHER SURVIVOR Second body also located, up to 16 still reported missing and search continues **Update** SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - A Coast Guard helicopter crew spotted two women in the water seven miles northwest of Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico, at 5:15 this evening while searching for up to 18 people believed missing from a capsized migrant boat discovered by an ICE aircraft last night. One of the women, still clinging to a life jacket, was hoisted into the HH-65 Dolphin helicopter with the help of the embarked rescue swimmer and transported to the cutter Venturous where she was treated for dehydration and is now in stable condition. Sadly, the second woman was found dead and her body was recovered by the cutter Cushing. "It is bittersweet," said Lt. Tony Russell, public affairs officer for the Seventh Coast Guard District. "One moment the exhiliration and hope that comes with finding another survivor after an entire day's effort, the next facing the harsh reality that these deadly migrant voyages represent." Based on these discoveries, the search effort continues. Currently there are three Dolphin helicopters from Air Station Borinquen and one C-130 Hercules airplane from Air Station Clearwater, Fla., scanning the waters of the Mona Pass along with the two cutters. The massive search effort began last night when a patrolling ICE Air and Marine Operations aircraft located the overturned vessel shortly after 8:00 p.m. The Coast Guard Greater Antilles Section was notified and diverted the Coast Guard Cutters Cushing and Venturous, who arrived on scene about 35 minutes later and immediately began recovering migrants found clinging to the boat's hull. So far, two dead and 14 survivors have been located, with up to 16 still missing based on the information provided by survivors. 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 Sunday morning. CGC Cushing is a 110-foot Patrol Boat based in San Juan. CGC Venturous is a 210-foot Medium Endurance Cutter based in St. Petersburg, Fla. ### The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the |
printer friendly