Pacemaker Fishing Forum

Yesterday, there was a Coast Guard rescue of a boater whose boat was sinking off of PLO. I had read about it and wondered why the boater was even out there.

Well, the story continues as the skipper of the Coast Guard boat that made the rescue was the son of a friend of mine. Here is Ron Horton's account:

"My son was at the wheel and his boat crew from St. Inigoes rescued a boater in the bay off Pt. Lookout yesterday. The boat had gone down and the sole occupant was in the water. Big wind and and 9ft sea of white water (41*). Tremendous luck to find him and according to my son, the boater unresponsive and almost gone when they got him in.

Helicopter out of USCG Atlantic City made the at sea transfer and hospital transport and pilot said wind was 46 mph at the time. The 41' cutter had w/s wipers torn off by the seas and had engine room flood alarm going off as they made it back into the St. Marys. Boater was in ICU last night but made it OK.

It was just my son on duty as station officer and a holiday skeleton crew of 4, not is normal crew. Only 5 at the station and all of them went out when the call came from Baltimore. Two had just gotten boat qualified.

I'm proud as hell of my son and all the crew."

May God Bless all of those that put themselves in harm's way to help others!