Include flares in survival kit, say US Coast Guards
29/04/2022
After rescuing an 81-year-old man from a sinking boat, US Coast Guards advised mariners to include flares in their survival kit.
The man’s boat started sinking in Little Back River, Georgia, one day in April. Coast Guard Station Tybee watchstanders mobilised a Coast Guard Air Station Savannah MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew.
The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office Eagle one aircrew also assisted in the search for the man on board the 16-foot boat.
Helicopter pilot Lt. Christinia Batchelder, from Coast Guard Air Station Savannah, says, “Our crew was fortunate to find this gentleman after an hour of searching by using an approximate cell phone location ping.
“We recommend mariners make a survival kit with flares and a radio in case they find themselves in a dangerous situation so the Coast Guard can locate them quickly.”
After being hoisted from the water, the man was transferred to emergency medical services at Savannah International Airport.
The image is courtesy of U.S. Georgia Coast Guard Southeast.
