Coast Guard rescues U.S. citizen from life raft following vessel capsizing in the Mona Passage

A Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew rescued a 46-year old boater, who is a U.S. citizen from Texas, from a life raft early Dec. 2, 2018, approximately 30 nautical miles east of Samana, Dominican Republic. The boater's 26-foot outboard powered catamaran capsized and sank in the Mona Passage after taking on water.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew rescued a boater from a life raft early Sunday morning, approximately 30 nautical miles east of Samana, Dominican Republic.

Rescued is Justin Smith, a 46-year-old man and U.S. citizen from Dallas, Texas.

"This case demonstrates how being prepared beforehand can save your life,” said Lt. Cmdr. Adam Mullin, MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircraft commander. “The survivor was in a life raft with a VHF radio, strobe lights, flares, a life vest, and an EPIRB, which made him highly visible and easy to locate. We were able to get on scene, quickly located the survivor, and rescued him with the help of our rescue swimmer."

Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan received a Mayday radio transmission at 3 a.m. Sunday on VHF-Channel 16 from Smith, who notified he deployed and embarked his life raft after his 26-foot catamaran capsized and sank while transiting from Fajardo, Puerto Rico to Samana, Dominican Republic.

Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan launched a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Borinquen to search for the reported distress and provide any needed rescue assistance.

The Coast Guard helicopter crew arrived on scene and located a yellow life raft with Smith onboard. The crew deployed their rescue swimmer, who was able to reach and secure the survivor to the aircraft rescue basket and hoist him safely onboard the helicopter.

The Coast Guard aircrew transported the survivor to the Coast Guard Air Station in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, where he was released after declining medical assistance from awaiting Emergency Medical Service personnel.

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Coast Guard rescues missing hunter on Mona Island, Puerto Rico

Photo: ©U.S. Coast Guard (archive)

The crew of a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Borinquen rescued a missing hunter July 13, 2018 on Mona Island, Puerto Rico. The 60-year-old man, who claimed to be disoriented, was hoisted aboard the aircraft and transported to the Department of Natural and Resources Park Ranger Station on Mona Island, where he was reunited with his hunting party. 

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The crew of a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter rescued a missing hunter on the natural reserve of Mona Island, Puerto Rico Friday morning.

Rescued is Walter Cardona, 60, a resident of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, after he was reported missing by fellow hunters to Department of Natural and Environmental Resources Park Rangers Thursday night, who notified Cardona had been separated from the group.

Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan were contacted at 10:55 p.m. Thursday by DNER Park Rangers, who reported the incident and requested Coast Guard assistance in locating the missing hunter.

Coast Guard watchstanders proceeded to launch a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Borinquen at first light to conduct an overflight search of Mona Island. Within 20 minutes of commencing their search, the crew of the Coast Guard helicopter spotted the missing hunter laying on the ground and waving his arms on the North West corner of the island, approximately four miles from the DNER Park Ranger Station. The missing hunter was spotted in a small clearing, about one and a half miles away from the main trail. The Coast Guard aircrew proceeded to lower a radio and establish communications with the hunter, who reported being disoriented but otherwise in good health. The crew of the Coast Guard helicopter proceeded to deploy their rescue basket and hoist the hunter onboard the aircraft.

The Coast Guard aircrew transported to Cardona to the DNER Park Ranger Station on Mona Island, where he was reunited with his hunting party.

Mona Island is a 5,000 hectare natural reserve located in the Mona Passage, approximately 41 miles off the west coast of Puerto Rico. The island has no permanent settlements and is under the administration of the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources.

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Photo: U.S. Coast Guard District 7

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Coast Guard medevacs 57-year-old man 97 miles east of St. Catherines Sound

Photo: Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric Woodall

A Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew flies towards Las Marias, Puerto Rico, on Oct. 5, 2017, to deliver relief supplies to victims of Hurricane Maria. Air Station Borinquen has been helping deliver food and water to people stranded by mudslides and washed out roads.

SAVANNAH, Ga. — The Coast Guard medevaced a 57-year-old man Friday from a fishing vessel 97 miles east of St. Catherines Sound.

Watchstanders at the Coast Guard's Sector Charleston Command Center received notification from a crewmember aboard the 72-foot fishing vessel Lady Helena stating a crewmember was suffering from chest pains.

A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Savannah arrived on scene at 9:12 a.m., hoisted the crewmember and transported him back to the air station at 9:46 a.m. where EMS was waiting.

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