Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: Aug. 24, 2008

Contact:  Lt.j.g. Isaac Mahar
(251) 441-6522

Coast Guard rescues two after raft capsizes

MOBILE, Ala. - The Coast Guard rescued two men Saturday whose 18-foot skiff sank 2-miles off of the coast of Dole Plant in Gulfport, Miss. 

One of the three men aboard the skiff swam to shore and called the Coast Guard at approximately 7 p.m., reporting that the vessel he was aboard capized and two crewmembers were in the water.

The Coast Guard launched a HH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter and crew and a 41-foot rescue boat and crew from station Gulfport.  The Coast Guard Cutter Seahawk also responded.  The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources launched a vessel as well to assist in the rescue. 

At 7:30 p.m., the DMR recovered one of the men.  The second man was recovered by station Gulfport. 

The men were taken to Gulfport Memorial Hospital. 

Their condition is unknown.

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