Coast Guard Air Station Houston is responsibile for an area that stretches from Lake Charles, La., to Freeport, Texas, conducting missions, training and patrols within that area.
U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer 1st Class Mario Romero.
HOUSTON — A Coast Guard MH-65E Dolphin aircrew, RB-S crew and good Samaritans rescue 5 mariners who were injured in a boat collision near Galveston, Texas. Tuesday, July 4, 2023.
Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston command center watchstanders received a call at 9:41 p.m. on VHF-FM channel 16 from the captain of the tug vessel Richard Tolar that an 18-foot pleasure craft had collided with a barge and capsized east of the Galveston Causeway. All five boaters were in the water, had sustained injuries, and were not wearing life jackets.
Watchstanders directed the launch of a 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew from Coast Guard Station Galveston and diverted an already-airborne MH-65E Dolphin Short-Range Recovery Helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Houston to rescue the mariners off Galveston coast.
While Coast Guard rescue crews were en route, the crew of the nearby towing vessel Chip Stiebing pulled all five boaters from the water. The MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew arrived on scene and hoisted two of the boaters, one who had sustained a head injury and one with a broken leg. The SRR helicopter crew transported and transferred the patients to emergency medical services (EMS) personnel awaiting at University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston.
The RB-S boatcrew arrived and embarked the remaining three boaters, all of whom had sustained minor injuries. The boatcrew brought the three adults to Station Galveston, where emergency medical services personnel assessed and transported them to UTMB Galveston.
All survivors were last reported to be in stable condition. The cause of the collision is currently under investigation by Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Texas City personnel.
“We commend the crew of the Chip Stiebing for launching into action and helping people in need,” said Cmdr. Michael Cortese, search and rescue mission coordinator, Sector Houston-Galveston. “Their quick response expedited the overall rescue and helped us connect these boaters with higher medical care.”
For more information follow U.S. Coast Guard on Facebook and Twitter.
–USCG–
Five people aboard an 18-foot pleasure craft were injured and thrown into the water after their boat collided with a barge and capsized east of the Galveston Causeway.
U.S. Coast Guard video.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston.
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Houston.
U.S. Coast Guard Station Galveston.
U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area.
U.S. Coast Guard Heartland.
Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Department of Homeland Security.
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.
