CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND, Va. — The U.S. Coast Guard, along with help from a Good Samaritan, rescued six people from a life raft after their boat sank.
The Coast Guard said it happened about 60 miles east of Chincoteague on Monday. No one was hurt, but the 34-foot boat, The Knot Stressin', is unrecoverable.
Watchstanders said they received a distress call from the boat's captain, saying the engine room had flooded and everyone aboard was abandoning ship.
A 47-foot Motor Life Boat was launched from Coast Guard Station Chincoteague, and the Coast Guard Cutter Sailfish was also diverted to assist in rescue efforts.
An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast was issued, and the captain of the Fishbone, a 65-foot fishing vessel in the area, responded and was able to retrieve all six survivors.
The Coast Guard credited the rescued boaters with having a working VHF radio and life raft on board. The survivors also had properly fitted life jackets and personal locator beacons, which allowed watchstanders to know their exact location.
