Coast Guard rescues jet skiers in Tampa Bay
The Coast Guard rescued two missing jet skiers Thursday in the Tampa Bay.
At 8:35 p.m. watch standers at Sector St. Petersburg received a 911 transfer call from Hillsborough County Dispatch of a jet skier stating two other jet skiers had gone missing. The three jet skiers were south of the Gandy Bridge, when one jet ski became disabled. The caller had left to go to shore for a tow line and when he came back the other two were missing.
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Clearwater, and a 29-foot Response Boat Small-II crew from Station St. Petersburg were launched to commence the search.
At 9:45 p.m. the Jayhawk crew located the missing jet skiers in the bay and directed the rescue boat crew to the location. The boat crew transported the men and the jet skis to Gandy Boat Ramp.
“It is very important to have a VHF radio on board any vessel when out on the water,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Bonneau, an operations specialis at the sector. “When in a group of boats, the most important thing is to stay together and communicate for assistance.”
Tampa Police Department aided in the search.