Coast Guard crewmembers transferred two boaters Monday to Coast Guard Station Marathon after they were rescued by a good Samaritan from a sinking boat off Knight Key.
Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders received notification at 10:18 a.m. from Harry Demlang, a good Samaritan, stating a 15-foot boat with two people aboard capsized.
Watchstanders launched a 33-foot Response Boat-Small boatcrew from Station Marathon.
The crew arrived at 10:38 a.m. to find Demlang recovered the two people from the water.
The Coast Guard boatcrew embarked the two people and transferred them to Station Marathon at approximately 11 a.m.
“Good Samaritans are always appreciated. We want anyone who can assist in emergency situations to do so, it helps us out greatly,” said Fireman Nicholas Sweet, crew member at Station Marathon.
“Also, having the required safety equipment aboard definitely played a big role in their rescue.”
There were no reports of injuries and the boat owners are working on salvage operations.
Coast Guard Sector Key West is a unified command consisting of two patrol boats, eight dual crews, three small boat stations, an Aids to Navigation Team (ANT) and three staff departments.
The Sector Commander performs the duties of Search and Rescue (SAR) Mission Coordinator (SMC), Captain of the Port (COTP), Federal Maritime Security Coordinator (FMSC), Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC), Officer in Charge and Marine Inspection (OCMI).
