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Coast Guard Rescues 3 People From Gulf

By Coast Guard

Published: Thu, April 17, 2008 - 9:43 am Last Updated: Thu, April 17, 2008 - 9:54 am

Short URL: http://wkrg.com/a/12931/

MOBILE, Ala. - The Coast Guard rescued three people after their 38-foot fishing vessel, Elizabeth Mae, sank approximately 50 miles southeast of Apalachicola, Fla., in the Gulf of Mexico this morning.
A watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Mobile received an emergency distress signal from a Digital Select Calling (DSC) device onboard the Elizabeth Mae at approximately 5 a.m. reporting that the vessel was taking on water.
Sector Mobile launched a HU-25 Falcon rescue jet and crew from Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile, Ala., the Coast Guard Cutter Seahawk, and a HH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter crew from Air Station Clearwater, Fla.
The Jayhawk rescue helicopter crew medevaced two of the survivors from a life raft and the third survivor clinging to a cooler in the water without a life jacket. No injuries were reported and they were transported to the Apalachicola Airport.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.