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Office of Public Affairs |
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| Press Release |
Date: Nov. 25, 2004 Contact: Air Station Clearwater Public Affairs |
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COAST GUARD RESCUES THREE MEN OFF OF APALACHICOLA APALACHICOLA, Fla. - The Coast Guard rescued three men from their struggling sailboat this morning after all three had become incapacitated and unable to reach shore. The Coast Guard Station Panama City received a distress call at 3:15 this morning from the sailing vessel Goose stating that two of the three men on board were hypothermic and the third unconscious. A 41-foot rescue boat from Station Panama City and an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Clearwater were dispatched to provide assistance. Having been caught in the storm front that passed through the area the day before, the boaters were battling 10-foot seas and 30-knot winds. The crew of the HH-60 helicopter arrived on scene at approximately 7:00 a.m. A Coast Guard rescue swimmer was lowered from the helicopter into the 10-foot seas, swam over to the S/V Goose, and climbed on board to stabilize the three men. Upon arriving on scene, the rescue swimmer found all three men conscious and in stable condition, but suffering from exposure to the elements. The men were wearing rain gear and life jackets. Once stabilized, the three men were hoisted to the helicopter and brought to Panama City Hospital were they transferred to an ambulance in stable condition. The Coast Guard would like to stress that the proper equipment (VHF Marine Band radio) and use of rain gear and personal flotation devices significantly aided the three men in being rescued safely and urges all mariners to ensure they take similar precautions when out on the water.
### The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the |
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