Note: Click on photos for link to high resolution video and photos.

YANKEETOWN, Fla.— The Coast Guard continues to search for a missing boater near Cedar Key, Florida, after rescuing two men from a 23-foot capsized boat Saturday.

Missing is Gilbert Valdes, 54, from Eldersburg, Maryland. Rescued was Garrick Valdes, 50, from Locust Grove, Virginia, and Bruce Smith from Alachua, Florida.

At 10:05 p.m., Friday, watchstanders from Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Florida, received a report stating the three men had left Alachua at 5:30 a.m. via truck and trailer and never returned. 

At 3 a.m. officers from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed the truck and trailer were at the Cedar Key boat ramp. 

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter rescue aircrew from Air Station Clearwater, Florida, and a 27-foot Utility Boat-Medium from Station Yankeetown, Florida, were launched to commence the search.

At 7:25 a.m. the Jayhawk rescue crew located Gerrick Valdes and Smith aboard their capsized boat six miles south of Sea Horse Key, Florida. The men were hoisted and transported to EMS at Cedar Key airport. 

FWC and Cedar Key Fire and Rescue are aiding in the search. The Coast Guard has also launch an HC-130 Hercules aircrew to assist in the search.

For breaking news follow us on Twitter @USCGSoutheast

Editor's note: In previous versions, Gilbert Valdes was incorrectly reported to be from Elders Bird, Maryland. 

BOSTON — A Coast Guard boat crew responded to a 21-foot cuddy cabin taking on water with four people aboard Saturday approximately 25 nautical miles east of Salisbury Beach. 

Coast Guard Sector Boston watchstanders received report of the sinking boat at about noon and issued a marine safety information broadcast for nearby boaters to assist. 

A good Samaritan aboard the 25-foot center console No Name responded to the call. No Name arrived on scene and the four people aboard the sinking boat, who were all wearing life jackets, transferred onto the No Name and waited for the Coast Guard to arrive.

“It was very fortunate the good Samaritan responded and was able to be on scene so quickly,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Bobby Cook, an operation specialist at Sector Boston's command center. “A working VHF radio, life jackets for all passengers, and the good Samaritan all contributed to lives being saved today.”

Coast Guard Station Merrimack River launched a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew that arrived on scene at approximately 1 p.m. The four survivors transferred from No Name to the Coast Guard boat and were taken back to shore with no reported injuries. 

A commercial salvage company was arranged to right, dewater, and tow the boat to Rye, New Hampshire.  

The Coast Guard recently released 2015 recreational boating statistics. In the Northeast, recreational boating deaths decreased from 47 in 2014 to 34 in 2015, which is the second all-time low for our area, the first being in 2013 when there were 33 recreational boating deaths. Thirty of the 34 people who died drowned and 29 of the 34 deaths were the result of capsizing or falling overboard. Thirty-two of the 34 people who died were not wearing a life jacket.

A 29-foot vessel rests on top of a breakwall near the entrance to the Sheboygan River, July 22, 2015. The operator of the boat mistook lights on land for a marking near the entry to the river leading to the Sheboygan marina. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Anthony Valeri)	A 22-foot recreational vessel rests on the Calumet Harbor breakwall near Chicago, July 26, 2015.  Three people aboard the vessel were returning from a fireworks show at Navy Pier Saturday evening when they allided with the breakwall but did not sustain any injuries.  (U.S. photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Jacob Borges)

Media Note: Coast Guard spokespersons in your area may be available to discuss the importance of safe boating for the duration of National Safe Boating Week. Please contact us at 216-902-6020 to check on availability. If there is no answer, wait for a voicemail with instruction to be forwarded to a 24/7 on-call duty public affairs specialist.

CLEVELAND — As National Safe Boating Week continues, the Coast Guard 9th District is reminding recreational boat operators to remain alert every time they get underway and boat responsibly.

In 2015, operator inattention ranked as the number one primary contributing factor in recreational boating accidents across the United States, causing 551 accidents, 58 deaths and 353 injuries in that year according to the 2015 Recreational Boating Statistics.

The annual statistics show that operator inattention has been the leading cause of boating accidents since 2009.

"There is something that recreational boaters must also take with them besides their life jackets when they leave the pier for a day of boating, and that is their responsibility," said Mike Baron, the recreational boating safety specialist for the Coast Guard 9th District in Cleveland. "The operator is responsible for the safe operation of the boat, the passengers, and the safety of fellow boaters."

Operator inattention, operator inexperience, improper lookout, machinery failure, and excessive speed rank as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents in 2015. Of those top five factors, four are directly related to the the operation of the vessel and the operator's ability to identify changing conditions and respond to avoid an accident.

“Today’s boaters have access to some of the safest boats and best safety equipment manufactured to keep them safe on the water,” Baron said. “It is the boat operator’s responsibility to ensure that they are operating the boat safely, and should an unfortunate incident arise, know how to properly use the equipment they have on board.”

In the maritime environment, many things can directly affect even the most experienced boater’s alertness. Factors like inclement weather, sun glare, fatigue and nightfall can be exacerbated by drug or alcohol use, or other physical factors.

Safety is everyone’s responsibility. The Great Lakes Coast Guard urges boaters to contact the Coast Guard or local law enforcement when in doubt about something they see on the water.

NEW YORK - Coast Guard crewmembers medically evacuated a mariner aboard a tugboat near New London, Connecticut, today.

At approximately 8 a.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound command center received a call from the tugboat Jay Michael, reporting a crewmember aboard experiencing severe kidney pain approximately two miles south of New London.

The crewmember was a 55-year-old male that had a past history of kidney stones. He stated he had been sick to his stomach and unable to keep food down since 3 a.m.

A flight surgeon was briefed and recommended a medical evacuation within 24 hours.

Sector Long Island Sound launched a Coast Guard Station New London boat crew aboard a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium, who arrived on scene at 8:33 a.m.

The crew conducted the medical evacuation and transferred the mariner to a local Emergency Medical Service after returning to the Coast Guard station.

The mariner was then transferred to Lawrence Memorial Hospital in New London, Connecticut.

NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard recommends boaters have signaling devices on board their vessel in case of emergency during this second day of National Safe Boating Week.

All boaters should be able to signal for help. When day and night signaling devices are required, the devices must be U.S. Coast Guard-approved.

Signaling devices can be either pyrotechnic or non-pyrotechnic.  Pyrotechnic red flares and orange smoke used for night and day distress signaling, respectively, are examples of pyrotechnic devices. Non-pyrotechnic devices include orange distress flags (day only) and electric distress signals (night only).

Each of these devices have expiration dates and a different operating/burning time. Check the label for currency and to see how long each pyrotechnic device will remain illuminated. Choose a device best suited to the conditions in the area where your vessel is typically used; other signaling devices include, but are not limited to, flashlights, whistles, signal mirrors and horns.

The Coast Guard also recommends boaters equip their boat with an emergency position indicating radio beacon. An EPIRB is an economical safety device that automatically transmits an emergency signal when it is placed or floating in the upright position. The signal allows the Coast Guard and other rescue agencies to pin-point your exact location. Now small enough to be carried in your pocket, the device is designed to send an accurate location as well as identifying information to rescue authorities immediately upon activation.

To register an EPIRB, please click here.

For more more information on Coast Guard-approved signaling devices, click here.

Note: Click on photos for link to high resolution video and photos.

YANKEETOWN, Fla.— The Coast Guard suspended the search for a man, Sunday, after he went missing near Cedar Key, Florida, Friday.

Gilbert Valdes, 54, from Eldersburg, Maryland was reported missing Friday night, along with his brother, Garrick Valdes, 50, from Locust Grove, Virginia, and friend Bruce Smith from Alachua, Florida. The Coast Guard rescued Garrick Valdes and Smith from their capsized 23-foot boat Saturday morning.

"Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Gilbert," said Capt. Gregory Case, Sector Commander, Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Florida. "Suspending the search is never an easy decision to make, but despite our best efforts, we were unable to locate Mr. Valdes."

At 10:05 p.m., Friday, watchstanders from Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg received a report stating the three men had left Alachua at 5:30 a.m. via truck and trailer and never returned. 

At 3 a.m. Saturday officers from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed the truck and trailer were at the Cedar Key boat ramp. 

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew and an HC-130 Hercules fixed-wing aircrew from Air Station Clearwater, Florida, and a 27-foot Utility Boat-Medium boatcrew from Station Yankeetown, Florida, were launched to commence the search.

At 7:25 a.m. Saturday the Jayhawk rescue crew located Garrick Valdes and Smith aboard the capsized boat six miles south of Sea Horse Key, Florida. The men were hoisted and transported to EMS at Cedar Key airport

The Coast Guard continued the search for Gilbert Valdes alongside FWC, Levy County Sheriff's Office and Cedar Key Fire and Rescue. Coast Guard units searched 2,852 miles during 12 searches covering 3,468 square nautical miles west of Cedar Key.

FWC is leading the investigation.

For breaking news follow us on Twitter @USCGSoutheast

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A 20-year-old man is missing after he failed to resurface while swimming off Ponte Verda Beach, Sunday. 

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville received the initial report at 6:01 p.m., from St. Johns County Fire and Rescue stating that a young woman had watched her brother disappear underwater. 

The Coast Guard has launched rescue crews aboard a 29-foot Response Boat — Small from Station Mayport and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Savannah. 

St. Johns County Sheriffs Office are the lead agency in the on-going search efforts. Also searching are St. Johns County Fire and Rescue and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

CAPE MAY, N.J. – Coast Guardsmen are scheduled to participate in numerous Memorial Day events to help Cape May County honor the service of America’s military members who have died in service to our country, Monday, May 30, 2016.

The Coast Guard Training Center Cape May’s ceremonial staff will provide buglers, a color guard and firing parties at a number of community events in honor of Memorial Day. Senior officials from the training center are also expected to speak at a number of these events.

“This Memorial Day, we are taking time to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country,” said Capt. Todd Prestidge, commanding officer of the training center. “The men and women of the Coast Guard put their lives on the line each day, and Memorial Day is a humbling reminder of why we serve and what our mission is.”

Service members at Training Center Cape May will begin Memorial Day with a ceremony at the Signalman 1^st Class Douglas Munro Memorial, here. The ceremony will be attended by active duty and prior service members, including members of local veterans’ organizations.

Additionally, Capt. Prestidge, a bugler and a color guard will participate in an observance at the Corinthian Yacht Club at 10 a.m.

At 11 a.m., Capt. Prestidge along with a bugler, color guard and firing party will be at the Cape May Convention Center for a ceremony followed later that afternoon at the Cape May County Veterans’ Cemetery in Cape May Court House, N.J., where Prestidge will be a keynote speaker. The ceremonial staff will provide a bugler, color guard and firing party for this event.

A bugler, color guard and firing party from the training center ceremonial staff will also join members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars for an observance at the Columbia Ave. War Memorial in Cape May at 2 p.m.

BOSTON — A change of command ceremony for the First Coast Guard District is scheduled for Thursday at Boston’s historic Faneuil Hall.

WHO: Rear Adm. Steven D. Poulin will assume responsibilities from Rear Adm. Linda L. Fagan as commander of the First Coast Guard District.

WHAT: Change of Command ceremony for the First Coast Guard District, which includes more than 11,000 active duty, reserve, civilian and auxiliary personnel, and employs 30 cutters, 200 boats and eight aircraft.

WHEN: Thursday at 1 p.m.

WHERE: Boston’s historic Faneuil Hall.

Fagan, who served as First District Commander for the past two years, will continue her Coast Guard career as the Deputy for Operations Policy and Capabilities at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington D.C.

Poulin’s previous assignments include the Judge Advocate General and Chief General Counsel of the Coast Guard, and Director of Governmental and Public Affairs.

The First Coast Guard District covers eight states in the Northeast including more than 2,000 miles of coastline from the U.S., Canadian border to northern New Jersey, and 1,300 miles offshore.

In an average year, the First Coast Guard District saves 486 lives, conducts 1,762 search and rescue cases, assists 2,223 people, and safeguards $943,986,077 in property at sea.

Media interested in attending the ceremony are requested to contact First Coast Guard District public affairs by noon Wednesday at 617-223-8515.

MARYSVILLE, Mich. – The U.S. Coast Guard, in partnership with other federal, state, local, and Canadian response agencies is conducting a functional oil spill response exercise with Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership (“Enbridge”) in Marysville, Michigan, Wednesday, May 25th from 8 a.m., to 3 p.m.

More than 400 participants are involved in this exercise of a simulated discharge of light crude oil from Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline that crosses the St. Clair River.  

The exercise will include all operations involved in an emergency response to an oil spill including creation of a unified command; establishing incident planning, finance, logistics and public information components; multi-agency coordination; and oil recovery strategies.

Other participants include representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency, Michigan State Police, and St. Clair County Emergency Management.

Planning for this exercise has been ongoing for 12 months and is part of regularly scheduled planning efforts between the federal government and industry as dictated by the National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program Guidelines.  

Media inquiries should be referred to the U.S. Coast Guard’s public affairs office at (313) 568-9587.

BOSTON — Coast Guard rescue crews, along with partner agencies, are responding to a swamped 17-foot pleasure craft and a possible person in the water Monday at the mouth of the Essex River.

Coast Guard Sector Boston watchstanders received a report from a good Samaritan about the swamped boat at approximately 11 a.m.  The same good Samaritan had seen the boat at about 7 a.m. traveling towards the mouth of the river with one woman aboard. The woman was described as being approximately 50 years old with gray hair. She was not wearing a lifejacket.

A 29-foot response boat crew from Coast Guard Station Gloucester and an MH-60 Jayhawk crew from Air Station Cape Cod responded and are searching for the woman.

The Essex Harbor Master, Gloucester Harbor Master, the Marine Environmental Police, and the Gloucester Police Department are also searching.

If any one has any information about the possible missing woman please Contact Coast Guard Sector Boston at 617-223-5757.

NEW ORLEANS — While boaters may feel safe with just a cell phone, the Coast Guard recommends marine-band radios set to channel 16 for all boaters in case of distress during this third day of National Safe Boating Week.

VHF-FM radios are intended mainly for short-range communications, generally 5-10 miles, and at least 20 miles to a Coast Guard station. Boaters are urged to stay by the radio, if possible. Even after the message has been received, the Coast Guard can find you more quickly if you can transmit a signal that a rescue boat or aircraft can receive. With marine-band radios on board and set to channel 16, a boater is only a call away from help. 

The Coast Guard, other first responder agencies and fellow mariners monitor channel 16 24/7, which increases the number of people who can respond.

"Radios are better than cell phones because their signals can assist in locating people in distress," said Ed Huntsman, boating safety program manager for the 8th Coast Guard District. "Though a cell phone is better than no communication device at all, cell phones tend to have gaps in coverage while on the water, plus limited battery life. Many VHF radios are now water resistant and some are even waterproof."

A growing number of boaters unsuccessful in getting a radio check on VHF channel 16 are calling mayday to get a response. Every hoax, including Mayday radio checks, is subject to prosecution as a Class D felony under Title 14, Section 85 of the U.S. Code, liable for a $5,000 fine plus all costs the Coast Guard incurs as a result of the individual's action.

For information on marine-band radios and procedures making distress calls on channel 16, click here.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary are celebrating safe boating this week in Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland. Whatever way you play on the water — whether it’s with a kayak, canoe, jet ski, powerboat, sailboat, or other craft — make safety your top priority! We’re determined to arrive at the day when every boater is fully prepared before going out!

1. Wear your life jacket. Often, the difference between life and death is wearing a life jacket rather than fumbling around for it when you need it. 84% of fatal drowning victims weren’t wearing a life jacket. With an expanded variety of comfortable options available, there’s no good reason to be without one.

2. Get a free vessel safety check annually. Visit www.SafetySeal.net to schedule an appointment.  A vessel safety check ensures a boat and its equipment comply with federal, state and local safety requirements. It’s your opportunity to get the facts and your questions answered, typically in less than an hour.

3. Take a boating safety course. What you don’t know can cost you! 80% of boating deaths occurred on boats where the operator had not received boating safety instruction. Most on-water accidents are preventable. Visit http://cgaux.org/boatinged to search affordable ($25-$50 on average) courses of all levels taught year-round by local experienced expert instructors.

4. Boat sober. Never boat under the influence. Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in boater deaths. Drunk boating is drunk driving. Have a designated vessel operator when friends and family are having a few adult beverages while boating.

5. Purchase a VHF radio with Digital Selective Calling and an EPIRB. Register both. A cell phone connects you to one party only. A VHF radio is better in an emergency because you can simultaneously alert the Coast Guard and surrounding boats. When an EPIRB is properly registered, the Coast Guard will be able to use the registration information to immediately take action. If the EPIRB is unregistered, a distress alert may take up to two hours longer to reach the Coast Guard over the international satellite system.

6. File a float plan. Visit http://floatplancentral.cgaux.org/ for everything you need to know about filing a float plan. A float plan can be as simple as telling friends and family where you going, and when you plan to return.

7. If you see something, say something. Keep an eye out. Weather conditions change. If you see something that may be unsafe, call it out. Encourage your passengers to do the same.  Speak up for everyone’s safety.

8. Get Familiar with the new Coast Guard Mobile App. Your safe boating needs in one FREE easy app! Find the latest safety regulations. Request a vessel safety check. File a float plan. Request emergency assistance. Download it for free: www.uscg.mil/mobile .

PORTLAND, Ore.  — Coast Guard officials are seeking public comment while conducting a waterways analysis and management system review of the upper Columbia River from Vancouver, Washington, to the Bonneville Pools in the vicinity of Hood River.

Officials are seeking information from local mariners to validate the adequacy of the existing aids to navigation system, gain a better understanding of the uses of the waterway and general safety issues in the area before the comment deadline of Aug. 31, 2016.

The information collected from this survey will be used to see what may be done to enhance safe navigation of the waterway and to anticipate and plan for future budgeting requirements.

The survey is available on the Coast Guard 13th District’s Waterways Analysis Management Study website at: http://www.uscg.mil/d13/dpw/wams.asp.

Please mail or fax your survey to:

Commander, Marine Safety Unit Portland
ATTN: Chief Petty Officer Brian Berryhill
6767 N. Basin Ave.
Portland, Ore. 97217
Fax: 503-240-2586

The survey can also be scanned and e-mailed to d13-smb-MSUPortland FAC@uscg.mil.

For more information about the waterways management process contact Chief Petty Officer Brian Berryhill, at 503-240-9305 or by email at brian.k.berryhill@uscg.mil.

WARRENTON, Ore. — The Captain of the Port for Oregon and southern Washington canceled the captain of the port order on the motor vessel Sparna allowing the vessel to leave its mooring at Kalama, Washington, Monday.

The Sparna, a 623-foot bulk grain carrier, briefly ran aground near Cathlamet on the Columbia River, March 21, resulting in the ship needing to undergo temporary repairs.

“We have inspected the Sparna and have approved the temporary repairs to make the vessel seaworthy,” said Lt. Cmdr. Ben Russell, chief inspections department, Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Portland. “Our inspection team has monitored the planning and implementation of the repairs over the last two months. We are comfortable with the outcome and wish the crew of the Sparna a safe voyage across the Pacific Ocean.”

The original COTP order was put in place immediately after the grounding incident and required the ship undergo emergency repairs to the hull before departing to a foreign shipyard for permanent repair.  All repair work was completed to the satisfaction of the Coast Guard and the vessel’s flag state of Panama. 

The boulder that was lodged inside the hull of the vessel during the incident was incased in steel and concrete and is still aboard the Sparna.

For information on the original incident click the following link: http://www.d13.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/2800157/

BOSTON — The Coast Guard has suspended its search for a possible woman missing in the vicinity of the Essex River, Monday.

After a 10-hour search, which covered 44 square miles but yielded no sightings, additional reports, or correlating info, the search was called off at approximately 9 p.m.

Coast Guard assets involved in the search were:

- two MH-60 Jayhawks from Air Station Cape Cod

- 29-foot response boat from Station Gloucester

- 29-foot response boat from Station Merrimack River

Other government agencies involved were the Essex Harbor Master, Gloucester Harbor Master, the Marine Environmental Police, the Gloucester Police Department, the Ipswich Police, and Park River Wildlife.

Initially, Coast Guard Sector Boston watchstanders received a report of a swamped boat at about 11 a.m.  The source thought they saw the same boat earlier with one woman aboard traveling toward the mouth of the river. When the good Sam located the boat later, it was overturned with no one aboard. After contacting the Coast Guard, the good Sam towed the boat to a nearby mooring ball where it was later retrieved by its owner. It was reported that owner had not authorized anyone to operate the boat and has since contacted local police where the case is under investigation.

NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard urges all boaters to file a float plan with family or friends during National Safe Boating Week and the boating season.

A float plan, similar to a life jacket, is a life-saving device on paper, which can make a difference in rescue and response time in the event of an emergency.

Before boaters embark, they should leave detailed information about their trip with a family member or friend who is staying ashore. Include all information that would help rescuers in case of emergency, such as how many people are aboard, where you are leaving from and returning to, your intended route, how long you will be out and a description of your boat. However, do not file float plans with the Coast Guard.

A float plan is equally effective for the owner of a kayak or flat-bottom skiff as it is for a large cruiser, a 90-foot sport-fishing vessel or luxury yacht.

Typically, the owner or master of the vessel is the individual who prepares the float plan; however, any member of the crew can be assigned the preparation and filing duty. 

To obtain a float plan form, click here for a downloadable form.

By Petty Officer 3rd Class Joshua L. Canup
and Petty Officer 2nd Class Nate Littlejohn

Five women, all senior citizens, gathered for a photo on a pier outside a waterfront restaurant in Beaufort, North Carolina, on the evening of May 11. Without warning, the pier collapsed, plunging them all into Taylor’s Creek eight feet below. Surrounded by oyster beds and wooden pilings, the women clung to the collapsed structure in water too deep for them to stand.

Among the five lifelong friends, Kay Cochron of Albemarle was the greatest cause for concern. She’d suffered heart problems in the past, and the others began to panic as they treaded water and worked together to keep her afloat.

An off-duty Coast Guardsman, Fireman James D. Sanders, Jr., of Wedowee, Alabama, was eating dinner with his girlfriend at the same restaurant, and witnessed the alarming event. Without hesitation, he sprung into action.

"After the pier collapsed, for a moment we all went completely underwater,” said Cochron. “When we came up, a young gentleman climbed over the restaurant’s deck railing and jumped in.”


Amid the horrified onlookers and the dazed group of women in the water, Sanders remained a force of calm.


"He swam to us and started reassuring us immediately that help would come and we would be fine,” said Cochron. "My friends were concerned for me and we were also tangled up in some fishing line.”

With just eight months in the U.S. Coast Guard at Station Fort Macon, North Carolina, Sanders reacted to the situation like a seasoned first responder.

Sanders yelled for onlookers to grab whatever floatation devices they could find and spoke with reassurance to the women. Keeping them huddled together, Sanders spotted a dock about 35 feet away.


“Luckily, the current wasn’t too bad at this particular time so I was able to keep them huddled around the woman with heart issues to keep her warm," said Sanders.


Sanders’s request for floatation was answered when some pool noodles were located and passed down. Sanders retrieved the floating noodles and slid one under each woman. A good Samaritan arrived with a kayak to help. Sanders organized the transfer of the women, one by one, to safety on the nearby dock.


“He told my friends, 'I will not leave her, y’all go on, I’ve got her,’” said Cochron. “He said, 'I’ve got you.’ He kept us from panicking – really kept us calm. He and another guy, EMS I believe, got me under the arm and got me to the dock.”


By the time the Beaufort Fire Department arrived on scene, two women had already been escorted out of the water.


When Cochron finally made it to the pier, she was too shocked to turn around and thank him. Later on, however, she would voice her gratitude.


“He was a blessing to us,” said Cochron.


“I was in the right place at the right time,” said Sanders. “Normally, the current at that location is much stronger. This happened during an ideal tide. Luck was on everyone’s side.”


For the women, it was more than luck and circumstance, but Sanders’ swift reaction to a dire situation, and clear thinking to organize the efforts of other good Samaritans that evening.


“I did what any Coast Guardsman would have done,” said Sanders. “Helping people is what we do, on duty or off.”

Sanders hopes to become an aviation maintenance technician and eventually get qualified as a flight mechanic – a person responsible for operating a helicopter hoist in emergency situations.

Based on his recent life-saving actions, he’ll likely do well under that kind of pressure.