U.S. Coast Guard rescues three duck hunters near Beach Haven

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued three people who were stranded on Shelter Island near Beach Haven after their 18-foot pleasure craft became grounded during a duck-hunting trip during the extreme cold of Tuesday, Jan. 7. The call was received around 8:30 p.m.

One of the rescued men used a cell phone to report the three were stranded on the bay island after their boat grounded during low tide. An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City located the men and lifted them to safety.

Photo via Wikipedia
The U.S. Coast Guard rescues three people
stranded on Shelter Island near Beach Haven.

As a precautionary measure, members of the Beach Haven Volunteer Fire Co. were dispatched by Beach Haven police to set up a landing zone at Walsh Field in Beach Haven for the Coast Guard and New Jersey State Police to land helicopters. Instead, the hunters were transported to the air station in Atlantic City, where their care was transferred to awaiting emergency medical services personnel.

Despite wearing cold-weather gear for hunting in freezing temperatures, the men said they were very cold. Yet no immediate medical concerns were reported.

“They were about 15 miles away, and we were there in seven minutes,” said Capt. Jeff Powell, a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot assigned to Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City. “They were dressed well and had means of signaling. When they heard the helicopter, they used a flame to get our attention, which directed us to their exact location. Having any means to signal, whether a flashlight, flare or even a cell phone screen light, can greatly help a rescue crew at night,” he added.

There are many safety precautions boaters can take to prepare for potential emergencies. Nick Ameen, petty officer at the Coast Guard Public Affairs Detachment Atlantic City, suggests always wearing a life jacket while boating; children under 13 years old must wear a life jacket at all times. Boaters can also invest in an emergency position-indicating radio beacon, which sends a satellite signal to rescuers during an emergency situation and taking the “search” out of search and rescue, Ameen explained. A VHF-FM radio can also be more reliable for contacting rescuers than a cell phone, which might lose signal or battery power.

Ameen also suggests filing a float plan by informing a loved one of where boaters are leaving, where they’re going and when they plan to return. Equip the boat with distress tools such as signaling mirrors, which are valuable for daytime distress situations; and sound-producing devices such as air horns or whistles, which are essential in cases of thick fog or low visibility, he added. Attending a boating safety class and becoming more knowledgeable about boating is also essential. For more information, visit uscgboating.org.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.