A Coast Guard Air helicopter crew swooped in to save the day, rescuing a man stranded on a jetty near St. Lucie Inlet on Sunday.
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) said the rescue operation kicked off around 12:20 p.m. when a watchstander at the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center alerted crews about a personal locator beacon activation — a small, handheld device designed to send a distress signal to satellites in an emergency — after a Lake Placid man fell off a jet ski and into rough waters.
Due to the urgency of the situation, the USCG said watchstanders issued an urgent marine information bulletin and dispatched the Air Station Miami crew, and Martin County Sheriff rescue crews also lent a hand in the successful rescue mission.
“Situations like this are things that we train for on a routine level and we have some of the best in the business to conduct these hoists,” Petty Officer Third Class Eric Rodriguez with the Coast Guard Seventh District said.
Video of the rescue shows 53-year-old J B stranded on the rocks, then a USCG crewmember holding onto the man as they are both hoisted onto the helicopter. The aircrew took the man to Stuart Airport, where he was found to have no medical concerns, according to officials.
A picture taken shows the man standing with a few scrapes from the experience.
“We are grateful this gentleman had a personal locator beacon to notify Coast Guard watchstanders that he was in distress,” said Lt. Cmdr. J F, an Air Station Miami MH-65 helicopter pilot. “Today’s mission was truly a success due to this mariner’s ability to use his safety equipment along with the high level of training and readiness our crews maintain in order to conduct rescues like this.”
Deputy Sheriff M A said Ba having his life jacket on and a personal locator beacon is what made this rescue possible.
“I recommend everybody to have it. I was not a big person for people to have them on jet skis, but this changed my mind that everybody should have this, no matter what vessel you take out there, A said.
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Source: cbs12
