Passengers on a sailing vessel made an urgent distress call when their boat overturned in rough waters hundreds of miles from shore. Five individuals found themselves stranded 260 nautical miles off Cape Hatteras in North Carolina, USA, on Thursday after their vessel began taking on water, according to the Virginia Coast Guard. The Coast Guard Sector North Carolina Command Center received the distress call from the crew of the Magic Bus, prompting a rescue operation that involved a helicopter and ship deployment to locate and retrieve the group.
Following the distress call, the crew reported their boat taking on water, leading them to evacuate into a life raft. The Coast Guard swiftly mobilized a helicopter and ship to rescue the stranded individuals. All passengers were successfully rescued and deemed to be in good health after a coordinated effort with one of the world’s largest warships.
The Coast Guard detailed that the Cutter Angela McShan (WPC 1135) was diverted, along with an Air Station Elizabeth City HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew. The HC-130 Hercules aircraft located the life raft with the individuals on board, confirming their stability and good condition.
Given the significant distance from land, the Coast Guard collaborated with the aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush to provide fueling support for the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew during the rescue mission. Subsequently, the helicopter crew successfully retrieved all five survivors from the life raft and transported them back to Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City for further assistance.
Footage from the rescue operation captured the sinking boat and the subsequent rescue of the passengers by the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter. This incident occurred shortly after a separate maritime emergency where passengers from a sinking catamaran had to be rescued while on a day trip from the Mein Schiff 1 cruise ship to the Dominican Republic. The boat, named Boca de Yuma, submerged suddenly, forcing all 55 passengers to abandon ship and be rescued by naval authorities.
The rescue efforts highlight the critical role of the Coast Guard in responding to maritime emergencies and ensuring the safety of individuals at sea.