Portsmouth, Va. – The Coast Guard rescued two people Wednesday after the raft they were on drifted into the Sinepuxent Bay near Assateague Island, Md., Coast Guard officials tell NewsChannel 3.
A good Samaritan contacted Coast Guard Station Ocean City, Md., watchstanders at approximately 9:30 p.m. reporting two people aboard a life raft drifting out of the bay.
Watchstanders from Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads issued an urgent marine information broadcast and dispatched a crew from Coast Guard Station Ocean City, Md., aboard a 24-foot Special Purpose Craft – Shallow Water to assist.
The Coast Guard crew arrived on scene and threw a heaving line to the two people aboard the raft to pull them to the boat.
The crew transferred the two people onto the Coast Guard boat and took them to Ocean City Fishing Harbor in Ocean City where they were met by awaiting medical personnel.
“The unpreparedness of the two people could have made their situation worse,” said Petty Officer 1st Class William King, the coxswain aboard the SPC – SW from Station Ocean City. “We encourage all boaters to wear their life jackets every time they go out.”
