OCEAN CITY — A potential tragedy was averted this week when a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter was able to pull two adults and a child from their 22-foot recreational boat early Tuesday morning.
Around 8:26 a.m. on Tuesday, watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay received a distress call from a crewmember aboard the “Real Deal,” a 22-foot recreational boat based in Ocean City, reporting the vessel was taking on water and starting to sink about 60 miles offshore. An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City was deployed to rescue the boat’s occupants.
Shortly before 9 a.m., the Coast Guard helicopter and other law enforcement helicopters were seen circling around the Inlet area in Ocean City. The Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin reached the distressed crewmembers a short time later and was able to hoist the two adults and a child onto the aircraft.
The Coast Guard helicopter transported the rescued boaters to the Ocean City Airport where they were transferred to awaiting emergency medical personnel. The conditions of the victims have not been made public although a knowledgeable source said they were unharmed.