Petty Officer 3rd Class Emily Velez | U.S. Coast Guard District 5/A crew from Coast Guard Station Atlantic City assists an injured mariner who ran aground in Absecon Inlet, New Jersey, June 17, 2021. The man called for assistance via VHF-FM Channel 16 after he hit his head during the grounding.
ATLANTIC CITY The U.S. Coast Guard medevaced an injured mariner after his vessel ran aground in Absecon Inlet Thursday morning, June 17.
Just before 3 a.m., watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay command center received a transmission on VHF-FM Channel 16 from a mariner stating that he ran aground, hit his head and was potentially taking on water.
The command center launched a 29-foot Response BoatSmall boat crew from Station Atlantic City. Once on scene, the crew found the mariner's vessel high aground and not taking on water. They brought the mariner aboard and transited to Station Atlantic City where emergency medical technicians transported him to Atlantic Care Hospital.
"We are grateful that this mariner had communications equipment on board in order to reach out for help," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Austin Perkins, the coxswain aboard the RB-S from Station Atlantic City. "You never know when you may need to reach out for assistance, and having a VHF radio on board could end up saving your life."
