Release #: S11-07

Release date: November 25, 2003

Contact: Petty Officer Robert Suddarth

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SEVENTH COAST GUARD DISTRICT - WEST FLORIDA REGION

Coast Guard conducts 2 Gulf-coast rescues, saves 6 boaters

The crew of Coast Guard Station Sand Key, Fla., rescued three men last night after their 19-foot powerboat capsized about 15 miles west of Clearwater Pass.      The Coast Guard began searching for David Brewer, Dale Brewer and Steve Black, all of Lakeland, Fla., after receiving a call from David Brewer’s wife, Mary, saying the three had not returned from their fishing trip.  Mrs. Brewer told the Coast Guard they had departed early Monday morning from Seminole Boat Ramp and were planning to fish in the vicinity of Clearwater Pass.  When they hadn’t returned by nightfall, Mrs. Brewer became worried and called the Coast Guard.      After confirming the missing boater’s vehicle and trailer were still at the boat ramp, the Coast Guard began searching with a 47-foot motor lifeboat from Station Sand Key and a HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Clearwater.        A friend of the missing fisherman provided the Coast Guard with the location where he and the missing boaters had recently fished and, based on this precise information, the Coast Guard helicopter and rescue boat located the three men atop their capsized vessel at 9:45 p.m.        The three men, who reported their vessel was capsized by a wave at 9:00 a.m., followed a Coast Guard recommended practice for capsized vessels by remaining with their boat, huddling on top of the hull to conserve body heat and waiting for help to arrive.         Although the fishermen had lifejackets on board the vessel, they say the boat capsized too quickly for them to put them on.        The Sand Key rescue boat brought the three men back to shore where they were then transferred to EMS to be treated for hypothermia.        Also, on Sunday the crew of Coast Guard Station Fort Myers Beach, Fla., rescued three men on a disabled 36-foot fishing vessel 60 miles west of Fort Myers.        The fishermen attempted to call the Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16 at 9:00 a.m. Sunday.  Although the radio transmissions were weak and barely readable, the Coast Guard was able to hear the operator of the boat say he had a dead battery and provide only a partial position.        A rescue boat from Station Fort Myers Beach began searching for the disabled fishermen.        At 4:00 p.m., Sunday, the Coast Guard received a signal from the vessel’s Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon.  Using the information from the EPIRB, an Air Station Clearwater HH-60 helicopter located the missing vessel and directed the Station Fort Myers Beach rescue boat to the location.  The rescue boat arrived and towed the vessel and its three crewmembers to shore.        Whether it is by filing a float plan or carrying an EPIRB on board your vessel, being able to provide the Coast Guard with detailed, accurate position and distress information greatly improves your chances of surviving an emergency on the water.        “Having specific knowledge of where a boat is supposed to be helps take the search out of search and rescue and allows the Coast Guard to be more effective in conducting a rescue without delay,” said Richard Hutchinson, a search and rescue controller for U.S. Coast Guard Group St. Petersburg. -USCG- The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the Department of Homeland Security dedicated to protecting the safety and security of America.