Air Force Reserve rescue crews find, save final survivor

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Cathleen Snow
  • 920th Rescue Wing
PATRICK AFB, Fla. --  Crews from the 920th Rescue Wing rescued the 5th and final missing boater today from a pleasure craft that capsized Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. approximately 15 miles off the coast of Jacksonville, Fla.

After surviving 18 hours in the Atlantic Ocean, the missing boater was reported to have been severely dehydrated and sun burnt when found and rescued by two HH-60G Pavehawk helicopter crews at 12:23 p.m. Oct. 1 south of the accident site.

Air Force Reserve pararescuemen descended into the Atlantic Ocean and pulled the survivor to safety aboard one of the helicopters then treated him enroute to a nearby hospital.

A good samaritan reported the incident when he came across a man clinging to the hull of the capsized boat, said Lt. J.G. Dave Sanberg, search and rescue controller; 7th Coast Guard district, Miami.

The other four passengers were said to have swam for the shore.

The Coast Guard, Navy and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office launched a search for the missing boaters that lasted throughout the night.

Due to strained search and rescue vessels and personnel, Lt. J.G. Dave Sanberg contacted the Air Force Coordination Rescue Center at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 1 to request Air Force assets for assistance. One hour later the Coast Guard found two of the missing boaters. Simultaneously in another location, one more missing boater was found by a Navy SH-60 Seahawk crew, but the 5th man remained unfound.

The Air Force Reserve crews came on the scene at noon and found the fifth and final survivor shortly thereafter.

"The good coordination effort among the DoD and the Department of Homeland Defense led to a positive outcome," said Lt. J.G. Sanberg. "All five survivors are in good condition," he said.