Five rescued from sinking boat off Delaware coast

Five people were rescued by the Coast Guard on Wednesday, after the vessel apparently began to sink.

The US Coast Guard says around 11:25 AM, Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay received a distress call from someone on a 20-foot recreational boat. A small boat crew, along with a motor life boat crew, both from Coast Guard Station Indian River, made their way to the scene, along with a dolphin helicopter air crew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City.

The crews reportedly found the boat, about seven miles east of Indian River, Delaware, and were able to get everyone from the sinking boat, to safety on the Coast Guard’s 47-foot motor life boat, by around 11:40 AM.

“They were all wearing life jackets and had a VHF radio aboard, which helped us identify exactly where they were, so we could maintain communication with them until help arrived,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Joscelyn Greenwell, the officer of the day.  “The man remained calm while he was talking to us on the radio and that helped our watchstander to correctly gather the information we needed so we could get them help as quickly as possible.”

Officials say the Coast Guard’s small boat crew then towed the sinking boat into South Shore Marina where the boat was trailered. No injuries were reported during the incident.