CLEVELAND — The Coast Guard and a good Samaritan rescued five people from a boat basin, Wednesday evening, in the vicinity of Coast Guard Sector Buffalo, N.Y., after their sailboat capsized and sank.
The names and hometowns of the rescued individuals are not being released.
At 6:49 p.m., search-and-rescue controllers at Sector Buffalo were notified by three separate reporting sources that a sailboat with five people aboard had capsized just outside of Coast Guard Station Buffalo.
Sector Buffalo issued an urgent marine information broadcast, which is intended to alert other mariners of a situation, ask them to keep a lookout, assist if possible and report any information to the Coast Guard.
A rescue boatcrew from Station Buffalo aboard a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium was dispatched to the scene and rescued four people from the water. A good Samaritan, who had responded to the UMIB, rescued the fifth person from the water. All five people were taken to Sector Buffalo and evaluated by emergency medical services.
No serious injuries were reported.
All five people were wearing life jackets, and the cause of the incident remains under investigation.
Sector Buffalo marine inspectors are currently working with the owner to establish a salvage plan for the sailboat.
“Timely notification by witnesses and the quick response by Coast Guard personnel and good Samaritans resulted in a successful rescue,” said Cmdr. Dan Jones, chief of response at Sector Buffalo.
The Coast Guard wishes to remind boaters of the importance of wearing life jackets. The only life jacket that can save your life is one you are wearing.
The Coast Guard commends the efforts of good Samaritans, but reminds mariners to ensure they aren’t putting themselves at any undue risk by assisting.