By Stefanie Jackson – The Coast Guard rescued five people whose boat capsized near the Old Plantation Flats lighthouse near Cape Charles June 20.
Good Samaritans aboard a pleasure boat, Real Joy, contacted watchstanders at Coast Guard Station Cape Charles at approximately 10:15 a.m. and notified them that a boat had capsized, with four men and one woman in the water.
Until the Coast Guard arrived, good Samaritans aboard two recreational boats and two fishing boats threw life jackets to the boaters in distress and positioned their boats to block the waves from the capsized vessel.
The Coast Guard found the boaters sitting on top of the capsized vessel, transferred them to a 45-foot response boat, and transported them to Station Cape Charles, where EMS personnel were waiting.
The Coast Guard rescue boat’s coxswain, Petty Officer 2nd Class Dylan Nigh, said, “Sometimes fellow mariners are the first responders. These good Samaritans did the right thing by contacting us as soon as possible and safely helping out in any way they could.”
“It’s good to see mariners keeping a solid watch and helping each other out.”
