SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Six boaters were rescued Monday after their 48-foot vessel Aurora ran aground rocks just off Coral Bay in Saint John, U.S. Virgin Islands.
The three men and three woman reportedly chartered the vessel for a recreational trip in the Virgin Islands.
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A Coast Guard boat crew, two Coast Guard rescue helicopters and National Park Rangers were sent to the area. However, boat crews could not remove the boaters from the vessel because it was hard aground on the rocks, taking 6 to 7 foot waves from the stern.
The helicopter crew was eventually able to deploy rescue swimmers to assist the boaters, get them into the water and swim them away from the rocks and grounded boat.
Five of the boaters were taken to the National Park Service Rangers, while one woman was taken to the airport in Saint Thomas, where she was treated for a foot injury.
"This was an amazing showcase on Coast Guard search and rescue capability, team work and interagency coordination," said Lt. Cmdr. Lawrence Gaillard. "Coast Guard rescue crews rescued six people from a damaged sailing vessel on the rocks, and rescue swimmer Petty Officer First Class Matthew Baynes did a great job in coordinating rescue efforts with two Coast Guard MH-65 aircraft."