Updated at 6:49 a.m., Monday, April 9, 2007
Coast Guard, HFD rescue mariner off South Kona coast
Advertiser Staff
The U.S. Coast Guard and the Hawai'i County Fire Department combined to save a boater who was adrift off the South Kona coast Sunday morning.The Coast Guard said in a news release that a distressed mariner contacted them at 1:20 a.m. Sunday morning when his 17-foot vessel was disabled and powerless near Honauna Bay. After losing the cell phone connection, the Coast Guard immediately launched a rescue helicopter from Air Station Barbers Point on O'ahu and contacted the fire department for assistance.
The rescue helicopter arrived on the scene at 3:24 a.m., located the vessel and lowered a handheld radio to improve communications.
The Hawaii County Fire Department then launched a rescue boat out of Kailua Fire Station and was directed to the disabled vessel by the Coast Guard helicopter. The rescue boat took the vessel in tow at 5:45 a.m. and brought the vessel and its one passenger safely to Keauhou Harbor.
The Coast Guard said the case is a reminder of the importance for boaters to have flares, a handheld radio and other emergency equipment on hand to increase the chance of being rescued in distress situations.
