Archive image: A Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City MH-65E Dolphin helicopter aircrew conducted training off Atlantic City, New Jersey, February 4, 2025.
The MH-65E Dolphin typically carries a crew of four, consisting of two pilots, one flight mechanic and one rescue swimmer.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Coast Guard Auxiliarist Leon C. DeFulgentis.
PHILADELPHIA — A Coast Guard MH-65E Dolphin helicopter aircrew and partners conducted the rescue (medevac) of a 72-years-old fisherman near Barnegat Bay, New Jersey. Thursday, April 10, 2025.
Rescued was John M., from an aids to navigation dayboard in the vicinity of Oyster Creek Channel.
Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay command center watchstanders received a call at approximately 10 p.m., Wednesday, from Mazzy’s daughter who reported her father was overdue from a clamming trip near Baker’s Basin and Oyster Creek Channel. The watchstanders directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City MH-65E Dolphin helicopter aircrew and a Station Barnegat Light boatcrew. They also notified local marine rescue crews to conduct searches.
At 2:08 a.m., Thursday, the MH-65E Dolphin Short-Range Recovery Helicopter aircrew located a 17-foot white Carolina skiff matching Mazzy’s vessel description. The rescue helicopter aircrew directed the Station Barnegat Light and commercial salvage boatcrews to the vessel, where no one was found aboard. Shortly after, the MH-65 Dolphin aircrew spotted Mazzy clinging to a nearby dayboard and directed the boatcrews to the location.
The Coast Guard, local law enforcement and commercial salvage crews rescued the 72-year-old man, who had hypothermia-like symptoms, from an aid to navigation dayboard after the man’s daughter reported him overdue from a clamming trip.
U.S. Coast Guard video
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City
U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command
U.S. Coast Guard Mid-Atlantic
The commercial salvage boatcrew arrived on scene and transferred Mazzy, who had hypothermia-like symptoms, from the dayboard to their vessel. The MH-65E Dolphin SRR Helicopter aircrew deployed the rescue swimmer, hoisted Mazzy from the commercial vessel and took him to emergency medical services (EMS) personnel awaiting at Key Harbor Marina for further medical care.
“Mr. Mazzy filed a float plan with his daughter which greatly assisted rescue crews locating him quickly,” said Rick Anderson, an operations unit controller with Sector Delaware Bay. “Mr. Mazzy’s float plan was a verbal plan where he told his daughter where he was leaving from, how long he was going to be out and the locations he was planning to do conduct his fishing. Float plans can significantly increase mariners’ chances of being found swiftly by rescue crews because the crews have areas to initiate their search efforts.”
Local New Jersey law enforcement crews are investigating the cause of the incident.
–USCG–
For more Hlcopters Magazine breaking news, stories, images and videos visit hlcopters.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
