Coast Guard Rescues 2 Near Sabine, Texas

July 15, 2003

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued two men after their boat sank about 5 miles off the Sabine Pass Jetties in Sabine, Texas, early this morning. The two shrimp fishermen from Houma, La., were en route to Texas on the Water World, a 92-foot shrimping boat, when they were caught in the storm. The boats emergency radio beacon signaled to the Coast Guard they were in trouble at 5:30 a.m. The crew made a 'MAYDAY' call to the Coast Guard at about 5:45 a.m. and at the same time the Sabine Sheriff's Department sighted flares. Coast Guard Air Station Houston launched an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter which rescued the fishermen at about 8 a.m. Heavy rains, strong winds and rough seas from Hurricane Claudette hindered the search. Tony and Lam Nguyen, of Biloxi, Miss., activated their boats emergency radio beacon signal at 5:30 a.m. when they began to sink. The Nguyen's then made a 'MAYDAY' call to the Coast Guard at about 5:45 a.m. and shot-off distress flares, which were spotted by the Sabine Sheriff's Department. Coast Guard Air Station Houston launched an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter to search for the source of the 'MAYDAY' call. Arriving in the Sabine Pass area the helicopter crew spotted the Nguyen's floating in the water between the Sabine Jetties. Both were safely hoisted to the helicopter. Heavy rains, strong winds and rough seas from Hurricane Claudette hindered the search. The Nguyen's were flown to Christus-St. Mary Hospital in Port Arthur, Texas with no apparent injuries.

Coast Guard Rescues 2 Near Sabine, Texas

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