Saturday, March 10, 2007

Coast Guard Rescues Fisherman Near Hatteras Inlet

The Coast Guard rescued a commercial fisherman after his boat capsized in the Pamlico Sound Friday morning near Hatteras Inlet. The Hatteras Inlet Coast Guard Station received a distress call at about 8AM and were able to use their VHF direction finding equipment to refine their search area. They launched two search and rescue boats and by 8:30 a helicopter and C-130 airplane were launched from Elizabeth City. The unfortunate fisherman was found at 10AM standing on a sandbar waving an orange life jacket. Since the water was too shallow for the rescue boats the fisherman was airlifted by helicopter to the hospital for hypothermia treatment. North Carolina fishermen are lucky to have such a well-trained and dedicated group - each year they save many boaters and fishermen from the dangers of the Atlantic. One other important item to note - the fisherman was saved in part due to his VHF. While cell phones are convenient, every boater needs a VHF as well. More on the rescue is available from WTKR NewsChannel 3.

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