EPIRB and VHF Radio Save 8 35-Miles Offshore
The image above was taken on June 1, 2024, but it illustrates better than anything we could ever say about the importance of having and EPIRB aboard every boat going offshore. Today EPRIBs are relatively inexpensive, small and can be carried in a pocket. Here’s the story as reported by the USCG—
8 People Rescued
A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater aircrew rescued a child and seven adults, Saturday, after their 28-foot boat capsized 36 miles west of Boca Grande.
No injuries were reported.
Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received the boaters' distress call through VHF-FM channel 16, where the boaters reported that their vessel was sinking and activated an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon.
The Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew honed in on the signal of one of the boaters’ Personal Locator Beacons, spotted the devices' strobe lights and found all 8 people wearing their life jackets while holding onto a cooler. The aircrew hoisted each individual from the water and transported them to emergency medical services at Venice Municipal Airport.
Well-Prepared Crew
"The boaters in distress carried close to every piece of lifesaving equipment we encourage the public to carry onboard their vessel,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Santiago Gomez, Coast Guard Public Affairs Detachment Tampa Bay. “Life jackets, an EPIRB, a PLB, visual signaling devices and a marine grade radio with VHF-FM channel 16 improve our Coast Guard crews’ abilities to locate mariners in distress and increase the chances of a positive outcome to bring them safely home.
