A Coast Guard helicopter crew rescues a family of four near Naval Weapons Station Concord in Suisun Bay, Calif., July 14, 2018, after the family's 22-foot sailing vessel ran aground and began taking on water. The crew transported the family to Buchanan Field Airport in Concord with no medical concerns.
SAN FRANCISCO — The Coast Guard rescued a family of four near Naval Weapons Station Concord in Suisun Bay, Saturday, after the family's 22-foot sailing vessel ran aground and began taking on water.
The master of the vessel contacted Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders via VHF channel 16 around 1:25 p.m. to request help for his family, which included his wife and two young children.
An aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco and a boat crew from Coast Guard Station Vallejo diverted to the scene, as well as a Solano County Sheriff marine unit.
Due to the shallow depth of the water, the boat crews could not reach the sailing vessel. The Coast Guard helicopter crew lowered the flight rescue swimmer, Petty Officer 2nd Class Sean Goodman, who swam to the vessel to hoist each of the family members.
The crew transported the family to Buchanan Field Airport in Concord with no medical concerns.
The helicopter crew consisted of Lt. Cmdr. Kenneth Ingram, pilot; Lt. Samuel England, co-pilot; Petty Officer 2nd Class Bradley Sorrell, an aviation maintenance technician; and Goodman.
The case was Sorrell's first rescue.
"I'm glad we were near the location of the vessel at the time of the call and were able to get on scene in a matter of minutes to conduct the hoist," said Sorrell. "It was a proud day for me as it hits close to home, being that I have two kids myself. Seeing the family of four make it home safely is why we do this job."
The sailing vessel is reportedly still aground and listing in two to three feet of water. There are no reports of pollution.
-USCG-