Coast Guard rescues 4 from life raft, 60 miles west of St. Petersburg
Still photo from USCG video of rescue.
St. Petersburg, Florida - During the early morning hours of Monday, February 14, 2022, four survivors were rescued from a life raft by a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew, after their fishing vessel “Right Stuff” sank, 60 or 69 miles (there were two conflicting reports of the mileage) west of St. Petersburg.
The aircrew arrived on scene, hoisted the survivors - Matt Whites, 42, Heather Whites, 40, Nicole Mendez, 22, and Mickey Maguire, 26 - aboard the aircraft, and transported them to Air Station Clearwater, where Emergency Medical Services personnel awaited.
View a brief video of a portion of the rescue here: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/831287/coast-guard-rescues-4-life-raft-60-miles-west-st-petersburg.
“This event highlights the importance of having proper survival gear and the thorough preparation by the crew of the vessel,” said Lieutenent Commander Jason Maddux, Jayhawk helicopter pilot at Air Station Clearwater. “Having life jackets and a life raft was critical for the survival of these four individuals.”
Coast Guard 7th District command center watchstanders received an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) distress signal from the sinking fishing vessel before its occupants abandoned the vessel and embarked on a life raft.
Watchstanders directed the launch of an Air Station Clearwater Jayhawk helicopter to locate the boaters and issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast (UMIB) to alert marine traffic in the area. A good Samaritan vessel received the UMIB and remained on scene during the rescue, monitoring the situation and ready to provide rescue assistance.