Coast Guard rescues two people after sailing vessel overturns

Two people are safe and sound after members of the U.S. Coast Guard rescued them from rough waters near Little Egg Inlet on Friday night.

There were ferocious winds and heavy rain falling across the Jersey Shore, New Jersey, and throughout the tri-state area as well on Friday and through the weekend making any kind of outdoor activity nearly impossible and above all — unsafe.

A 33-foot sailing vessel, that goes by the name ‘Free Bird’, then overturned and became grounded near Little Egg Inlet, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

There was a radio call that came in around 8:00 pm to Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay watch-standers that the boat  was in peril as it was heading toward Atlantic City with two people reportedly on board.

It was then that the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City sent out an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and Coast Guard Stations Atlantic City and Barnegat Light responded via rescue boats to help the stranded individuals, both of whom were on board the vessel than ran aground.

Coast Guard crews aboard the helicopter then brought the people aboard and back to the air station for medical attention.

“With high winds, driving rain and thunderstorms in the area, our aircrew worked to quickly lower the rescue swimmer to help the couple,” U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Humberto Hernandez — a pilot who flew on the rescue — said in a written statement. “Our swimmer was able to walk in the shallow breaking surf to the Free Bird and assist the people away from the vessel to facilitate a safer hosting situation, away from the overturned vessel’s mast.”

The Coast Guard said that both individuals who were rescued are reportedly in good condition.

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