BALTIMORE- Four people were rescued from a grounded vessel near Tangier Island, Va. by a Coast Guard helicopter crew just after midnight Saturday.
According to the Coast Guard, Station Crisfield watchstanders received a distress call from the vessel's owner, 34-year-old Barry Walker, at approximately 6 p.m. Friday, reporting his 36-foot boat had run aground near Tangier Island.
Station Crisfield watchstanders and Virginia Marine Police arrived on scene about 30 minutes later, but the Coast Guard crew was unable to reach the distressed boaters due to low water depth around the island.
The Coast Guard said the marine police 25-foot response boat crew was able to transfer the stranded owner and his 14-year-old son onto their boat; however the vessel was made heavier by the added passengers and also ran aground.
According to the Coast Guard, its crew from Air Station Elizabeth City was dispatched aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, and arrived on scene shortly after midnight, hoisting the two boaters and the two marine police boat crew members from the police vessel.
Walker and his son were transferred to awaiting Emergency Medical Services at the Tangier Island Airport. No injuries were reported.
The Coast Guard said weather conditions at the time of the rescue were reported as having an air temperature of 46 degrees, water temperature of 43 degrees and 10 to 15 knots winds with two to three foot seas.
Their respective parties recovered the vessels after high tide.
