A US Coast Guard helicopter crew successfully saved a distressed boater from a life raft approximately 20 nautical miles south of Guanica, Puerto Rico.
Keith Mcpartlan, a 42-year-old US citizen hailing from Florida, found himself in a perilous situation aboard the 48-foot pleasure craft Solamar while navigating off the coast of Puerto Rico.
Concerned that his vessel was at risk of capsizing, Mcpartlan made the harrowing decision to abandon the ship and take refuge in a life raft.
Coast Guard mobilizes for rescue
The Coast Guard sprang into action upon receiving an alert via US Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking on Saturday morning.
Reports indicated that the pleasure craft Solamar was in distress approximately 20 nautical miles south of Guayama, Puerto Rico.
Watchstanders at Sector San Juan coordinated the launch of a Coast Guard Jayhawk from Air Station Borinquen and diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos to assist in the search and rescue mission.
Multi-agency response efforts
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the Coast Guard initiated an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and alerted local authorities, including the Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action and Customs and Border Protection. Radio communications were established with Mcpartlan, who communicated his struggles with navigation equipment malfunctions and disorientation.
As the search unfolded, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos made a crucial discovery. They located the vessel Solamar early Sunday morning, adrift and unmanned, its navigation lights extinguished.
Meanwhile, the Coast Guard aircrew pressed on with their aerial search, eventually spotting the life raft at approximately 9:30 am Sunday.
Rescue at sea
Lowering a rescue swimmer, the Coast Guard confirmed the presence of a survivor aboard the life raft.
The crew hoisted Mcpartlan aboard the aircraft, bringing him to safety.
Following the successful rescue, Mcpartlan was transported by the Coast Guard aircrew to the Fernando Luis Ribas-Dominicci Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
