DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The U.S. Coast Guard said it coordinated with the crew of an oil tanker earlier this week to save three people on a sailing vessel that was taking on water hundreds of miles from the Florida coast.
Coast Guard Southeast District command center watchstanders launched an aircrew after receiving an emergency position-indicating radio beacon alert around 3:20 p.m. Sunday, according to a news release.
About five hours later, a Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City HC-130 Hercules aircrew located the 44-foot vessel taking on water in 20-foot seas 450 miles east of Daytona Beach and issued a distress radio broadcast asking for help from any other mariners in the area, the release states.
[MORE BELOW: 3 saved from capsizing sailboat off Flagler coast]
The crew of motor tanker Radiant Pride soon arrived on scene, completing the rescue by around 2:20 a.m. Monday with all three mariners brought aboard in stable condition and no reported injuries, according to the Coast Guard.
“Thanks to the incredible coordination between the Coast Guard and the crew of Radiant Pride, we were able to save the lives of three mariners,” Lt. j.g. Jordan Shaw, an Air Station Elizabeth City HC-130 pilot, said in a statement. “Due to the distance of the EPIRB activation and the weather conditions at the time, this rescue is a testament to the bravery and professionalism of all whom were involved.”
See video from the rescue at the top of this stoiry.