Archive image: U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Kyle Unger, assigned to Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi, deplanes an HC-144 Ocean Sentry in Houston, Texas, July 8, 2024.
U.S. Coast Guard photo Petty Officer 1st Class Jessica Fontenette.
HOUSTON — The Coast Guard RB-B and HC-144 crews conducted the rescue of five boaters from a capsized vessel near Freeport, Texas. Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston command center watchstanders received a report at 9:30 p.m. of an overdue 22-foot pleasure craft with five people aboard.
Coast Guard watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast (UMIB), directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft aircrew, and a Coast Guard Station Freeport 45-foot Response Boat–Medium crew.
After entering the search area, the RB–M crew sighted a flare and was vectored into the position of the capsized vessel by the HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew.
Once on scene, the RB-M boatcrew sighted the people in the water near the capsized vessel, all wearing life jackets. They approached, embarked the boaters, and safely transferred them to awaiting emergency medical services (EMS) personnel at the Bridge Bait Marina near Freeport.
No injuries were reported.
«This case highlights the excellent coordination and communication between multiple Coast Guard units, which led the detection of the overturned vessel and the safe recovery of all five distressed mariners,» said Lt. Cmd. Matthew Spado, the search and rescue mission coordinator. «It also should serve as a reminder of the importance of wearing your life jacket, having proper emergency distress equipment onboard at all times and making sure a friend or family member knows your float plan.»
– USCG –
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