Coast Guard rescues 2 mariners off Diamond Head, Oahu

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Amanda Wyrick | An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew stands with two survivors following their rescue off Honolulu, May 4, 2019. The crew located the two men in the water holding onto the hull of their vessel, hoisted them aboard and brought them back to Air Station Barbers Point. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo/Released)  

HONOLULU, HI, UNITED STATES

05.04.2019

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Wyrick 

U.S. Coast Guard District 14 Hawaii Pacific

HONOLULU — Coast Guard crews rescued two mariners about nine miles southeast of Diamond Head, Saturday.

An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew located the two men in the water holding onto the hull of their 19-foot recreational vessel, Smooth C's. The aircrew hoisted the 30 and 36-year-old aboard and brought them back to Air Station Barbers Point. No emergency medical services were requested.

The two men were returning from a cancelled race in Molokai.

“The survivors had a personal EPIRB which ultimately allowed the crew to locate them and hoist to safety, saving their lives," said Lt. Issac Babcock, a Dolphin helicopter pilot. “Visibility was less than one mile with ceilings below 200 feet and heavy rain. The initial search proved unsuccessful."

At 10:10 a.m., watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu command center received a notification via radio, channel 16 VHF, from the master of the boat stating their vessel was taking on water and sinking.

This call prompted the launch of a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Honolulu and the Dolphin crew as well as an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Air Station Barbers Point to respond.

The RB-M crew remained on scene to gather any floating debris found, such as coolers or life jackets from the vessel.

Although the RB-M crew witnessed the vessel sink, a Safety Marine Information Broadcast has been issued as a precaution to alert any other mariners in the area to a possible hazard to navigation. There are no reports of pollution.

Weather on scene was reportedly winds of over 30 mph and seas up to 9 feet. A small craft advisory remains in effect through 6 p.m. Sunday for all main Hawaiian Islands.

• Date Taken: 05.04.2019
• Date Posted: 05.04.2019 21:01
• Story ID: 320759
• Location: HONOLULU, HI, US