01-22-2013, 05:10 PM
SAVANNAH, Ga. - A boater and his cat were rescued off of a sinking 37-foot sailing vessel 38-miles east of Brunswick, Ga., Friday.
Rescued were Kevin Savage, age unknown, and his cat Tommy Girl.
Coast Guard District Seven watchstanders received notification at 8:21 a.m. that Savage was in distress aboard the sailing vessel Maggie when his Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) was activated, sending an alert and the vessel's position to the command center.
The Maggie began taking on water due to reported swells of 10-foot seas and 30-knot winds, which prompted the EPIRB to activate.
Coast Guard Air Station Savannah launched an air rescue crew aboard an MH-65 Dolphin and arrived on scene at 9:57 a.m., hoisted Savage and his cat from the sinking vessel without incident and transported him to the air station.
"This event highlights how critical it is to have a registered 406 EPIRB onboard when operating a vessel of any size," said Cmdr. Gregory Fuller, commanding officer of Coast Guard Air Station Savannah. "Without the distress alert received from this device, it is very unlikely that the outcome would have been this positive."
Rescued were Kevin Savage, age unknown, and his cat Tommy Girl.
Coast Guard District Seven watchstanders received notification at 8:21 a.m. that Savage was in distress aboard the sailing vessel Maggie when his Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) was activated, sending an alert and the vessel's position to the command center.
The Maggie began taking on water due to reported swells of 10-foot seas and 30-knot winds, which prompted the EPIRB to activate.
Coast Guard Air Station Savannah launched an air rescue crew aboard an MH-65 Dolphin and arrived on scene at 9:57 a.m., hoisted Savage and his cat from the sinking vessel without incident and transported him to the air station.
"This event highlights how critical it is to have a registered 406 EPIRB onboard when operating a vessel of any size," said Cmdr. Gregory Fuller, commanding officer of Coast Guard Air Station Savannah. "Without the distress alert received from this device, it is very unlikely that the outcome would have been this positive."