Coast Guard Comes to Rescue of Distressed Mariner

A 50-year-old man was rescued from the Long Island Sound today after he sent out a call for help.

Branford Police notified the Coast Guard that the man was experiencing chest pains and that his sail was fouled and there was water in his vessel's bilge. A rescue boat crew was immediately deployed from Coast Guard Station New Haven with an emergency medical specialist aboard.

Once on scene, just off of East Haven, the Coast Guard rescue crew observed that the 24-foot sailing vessel’s electrical system was not operating properly, the radio was inoperable and the bilge pumps were not functioning. The mariner was able to call for help on his cell phone. Weather conditions on scene were reported as 4- to 6-foot waves with wind at 15 to 30 knots and poor visibility.

The patient was taken aboard the Coast Guard boat and was transferred to the Branford town dock to waiting emergency medical specialists. His condition was reported as stable.

“Sometimes things happen on the water. That’s why we’re here,” said Mark Averill, a command duty officer with the Coast Guard command center in New Haven.

The Coast Guard strongly recommends that mariners, both commercial and recreational, maintain their vessel’s safety equipment and overall readiness. It is vitally important to inspect the vessel’s radio before getting underway.