MECHANICS WANTED
Even boaters without a clue get saved by the Coast Guard
two men marooned on Adam Island in the Chesapeake Bay plucked to safety by a rescue chopper
BALTIMORE — (SPECIAL TO THE CHESAPEAKE TODAY) There is one abiding rule with the United States Coast Guard – they will go to any length to assist and save anyone in distress, even those who put themselves in peril in bad weather.
A Coast Guard aircrew safely recovered two men stranded on Adam Island in the Chesapeake Bay on April 29, 2018.
The men intentionally ran their 17-foot vessel aground on the marshy, unpopulated island after becoming beset by foul weather Saturday night.
One of the boaters’ fathers notified watchstanders in the Sector Maryland-National Capital Region’s command center at 9:45 a.m. today that the two men were still stranded and soaking wet on the island.
An already-airborne MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Atlantic City, New Jersey, diverted from a training flight to assist. The crew landed on Adam Island, recovered the two men and transported them to Salisbury Regional Airport in Salisbury, Maryland.
The boaters are scheduled to retrieve their vessel as soon as possible.
“Adverse weather conditions can suddenly emerge and impact anyone’s underway voyage at any time,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Terrence Young, operations unit controller for the case. “That’s why it’s vital to continuously check weather forecasts in your area and prepare for the worst-case scenario by bringing appropriate safety gear and dressing for harsh conditions.”
