Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: July 5, 2008

Contact: PA3 Tom Atkeson
(618) 225-9008

Coast Guard Rescues 9 People near Emeline Pass

NEW ORLEANS- The Coast Guard rescued nine people yesterday, approximately one-mile southeast of Emeline Pass, near Venice, La.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a call at approximately 9:30 p.m. from one of the people on board a 23-foot bay boat reporting their boat had run aground.

Coast Guard Station Venice immediately launched a 33-foot response boat to assist, but the response boat was unable to reach the stranded boaters due to the shallow water. Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans launched an HH-65C Dolphin rescue helicopter crew at 10 p.m. to assist the 9 boaters, four of whom were children.

The HH-65C crew arrived on scene at 10:39 p.m. and successfully hoisted all 9 people to safety.

The stranded boaters were taken to Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans in Belle Chase, La..
   

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U.S. Coast Guard - Saving lives since 1790