Coast Guard pulls three Georgia fishermen to safety in 20-foot seas

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Coast Guard Air Station Savannah, Ga., crewmembers rescued three Georgia fishermen 62 miles east of Sapelo Sound, Ga., 6:40 p.m. Monday after their 37-foot sport fishing vessel, Ray A One, homeported in Townsend, Ga., capsized sending all three men scrambling into a life raft.

Bruce Findley and Kevin Mays, both Belona, Ga., residents along with Matt Roberts, a Meridian, Ga., resident were forced to abandon the Ray A One and engage the Emergency Position Indicator Radio Beacon (EPIRB). The signal was immediately picked up by Coast Guard watchstanders in Miami at 5:37 p.m.

Coast Guard rescue crews in Savannah launched minutes later, flew the 62 miles and located Findley, Mays and Roberts inside the life raft. The rescue of the fishermen were challenged by 20 knot winds and 20 foot seas but within 15 minutes all three were hoisted inside the helicopter safely and taken to the Coast Guard Air Station where local EMS were waiting to treat any needed medical concerns.

The cause of the accident is unknown. The fishermen stated they were asleep when the Ray A One capsized and sank within minutes.

Because the three fishermen chose to have properly working safety gear like the EPIRB, they are still alive today. Video is not available but please call (912) 652-4646 for more information.

Coast Guard pulls three Georgia fishermen to safety in 20-foot seas

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Coast Guard Air Station Savannah, Ga., crewmembers rescued three Georgia fishermen 62 miles east of Sapelo Sound, Ga., 6:40 p.m. Monday after their 37-foot sport fishing vessel, Ray A One, homeported in Townsend, Ga., capsized sending all three men scrambling into a life raft.

Bruce Findley and Kevin Mays, both Belona, Ga., residents along with Matt Roberts, a Meridian, Ga., resident were forced to abandon the Ray A One and engage the Emergency Position Indicator Radio Beacon (EPIRB). The signal was immediately picked up by Coast Guard watchstanders in Miami at 5:37 p.m.

Coast Guard rescue crews in Savannah launched minutes later, flew the 62 miles and located Findley, Mays and Roberts inside the life raft. The rescue of the fishermen were challenged by 20 knot winds and 20 foot seas but within 15 minutes all three were hoisted inside the helicopter safely and taken to the Coast Guard Air Station where local EMS were waiting to treat any needed medical concerns.

The cause of the accident is unknown. The fishermen stated they were asleep when the Ray A One capsized and sank within minutes.

Because the three fishermen chose to have properly working safety gear like the EPIRB, they are still alive today. Video is not available but please call (912) 652-4646 for more information.