Boat on the sea
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One man is dead and another is seriously injured after the vessel they were traveling in capsized Saturday, July 16, in outer Boston Harbor, Mass. According to State Police spokesman David Procopio, the 30-foot vessel HIGH LIFE “broke apart and capsized for reasons still under investigation,” launching both passengers into the water. Neither passenger was wearing a life jacket. The boaters were identified as Michael Spirito, 58, and Robert Fox, 63.

Coast Guard Sector Boston was notified of the capsizing around 6:15 Saturday evening, and responded to the call immediately, along with the Boston Fire Department, the State Police, and the Environmental Police. The victims, who had severe chest and head injuries, were pulled from the water and taken to shore where emergency medical services were waiting. Spirito had been pronounced dead, and Fox was rushed to a Boston area hospital by a helicopter crew for his life-threatening injuries. Fox was listed in critical condition as of Monday, July 18.

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Coast Guard Sector New Orleans watchstanders received notification Tuesday July 12, that the 36-foot fishing vessel LOONEY TUNA was taking on water and had capsized. Three of the six on board reportedly suffered injuries. The Coast Guard launched two helicopter rescue crews and one boat crew to the scene, where they successfully hoisted the three injured fishermen and transported them to a nearby hospital. The rescue boat and crew safely transported the other three fishermen to shore, where emergency medical services awaited their arrival.

The Coast Guard stresses the importance of having marine-band radios, emergency position indicating radio beacons, life jackets and signaling devices on board. Having this sort of equipment on board allowed the crew of the LOONEY TUNA to make a call requesting help.

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The 36-foot fishing vessel ICE MAIDEN capsized Sunday, July 3 in the Prince William Sound off Rocky Point, Alaska. Reports say the vessel capsized while hauling in a net full of salmon. Good Samaritan fishing vessels NEW VENTURE and AQUANATOR were fishing in the area and provided assistance and transported the crew to nearby Cordova. ICE MAIDEN then sank and came to rest on the seafloor in 35 to 45 feet of water, said Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Jason Boyle.
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Coast Guard Sector Anchorage watchstanders were notified that a crewman aboard the 32-foot fishing vessel MISS MARIA was suffering from a severely broken forearm, Friday, July 1.

The Coast Guard deployed a helicopter crew to the scene, and safely hoisted the 56-year-old fisherman and transferred him to awaiting emergency medical services in Kodiak. It was determined that the fisherman suffered a double compound fracture to his right forearm. Published reports do not indicate the cause of his injury. The fisherman was taken to Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center in reportedly stable condition.

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Watchstanders from Coast Guard District Seventeen received notification Thursday, July 7, that Anthony Imas, 50, was injured and required medical assistance. Imas was reportedly suffering from severe back pain after falling aboard the 50-foot fishing vessel HEIDI LINEA.

The Coast Guard directed the launch of a helicopter rescue crew, which arrived on the scene and safely hoisted Imas off the vessel. Coast Guard reports indicate that Imas was in stable condition as of 9:45 Thursday night. Emergency medical services were waiting for Imas’ arrival in Kodiak, where he was taken to Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center for further care.

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Three men and two women were thrown from their 19-foot boat after it took a wave over the bow in Lake Ontario on Monday, July 4. A member of the Coast Guard Reserve witnessed the event and called the Coast Guard Station Rochester to notify the crew of the accident. The Coast Guard deployed a 25-foot response boat to the scene, and the crewmen brought all five people out of the water.

Although there were five life jackets aboard the vessel, none of the passengers were wearing one at the time of the accident. Petty Officer 3rd Class Mark Owings took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of wearing life jackets rather than simply having them aboard. People rarely have enough time to put on a life jacket when an accident like this occurs.

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The Coast Guard medically evacuated fishermen Alvin Floyd and John Hodges from a 23-foot commercial fishing vessel on the south end of St. Catherines Island on Wednesday, June 22, following an explosion onboard. Operational watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Charleston received reports of the explosion and deployed two rescue helicopter crews. A good Samaritan rescued the fishermen from the water and waited until the rescue crews arrived. The Coast Guard crews safely transported the fishermen to Savannah Memorial Hospital.

The cause of the explosion is unknown. The commercial fishing vessel reportedly sunk approximately 1,000 feet off shore.

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Coast Guard Sector Charleston was notified Thursday, June 30 by Alan Carl, 45, asking for medical assistance after sustaining an injury while fishing around the mouth of the North Santee River near Georgetown, SC. Officials said the man’s arm was severed at the shoulder, possibly by the winch on board the shrimp boat. A Coast Guard helicopter crew from Air Facility Charleston arrived on scene and transported Carl to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Carl was listed in fair condition on Friday, July 1.

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Five men were pulled from the water by Mark Forester aboard his boat BLUCIFER on Friday, June 10. The five men had been clinging to their boat for approximately 22-hours southwest of Cape Lookout off North Carolina shores.

Rescued were Chul Lee, Byung Park, Ung Chong, Ku Changu, and Ung Sik James, all of Fayetteville, NC. The five men departed for a day of fishing on the morning of Thursday the 9th, and were reportedly anchored about 14 miles off New River Inlet when the boat was capsized by a large wave, throwing all passengers into the water. The men drifted with their boat for approximately 31 miles before Forester located them.

Officials said only one passenger was wearing a life jacket, and that their decision to stay with the boat undoubtedly saved their lives.

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A Coast Guard helicopter and crew from Coast Guard Air Station Houston were on patrol when they spotted an overturned 18-foot boat in Galveston Bay on Sunday, June 19. The helicopter conducted a search of the area and spotted one person in the water. The crew hoisted Robert Rasmussen of Houston into the helicopter, who notified the Coast Guard that his father was still in the water.

The helicopter crew located a good Samaritan who had arrived on the scene and picked up the father, 59-year-old Richard Rasmussen of San Leon. Both father and son were transported to Air Station Houston for evaluation. Officials said both recovered men had their life jackets on when they were rescued. Having been in the water for over two hours, their life jackets undoubtedly saved their lives.

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