Three Rescued from Flooding Vessel Near Sanibel Island

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued three people Monday after their 68-foot fishing vessel started to sink 36 miles southwest of Sanibel Island.

A member of Sea Tow Marco Island contacted Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders reporting they overheard a crewmember aboard the Cheyenne call out “mayday,” declare that they were taking on water and unable to keep up with the flooding.

Watchstanders diverted the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Marlin, an 87-foot Coastal Patrol Boat homeported in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., to the scene. 

"Once on scene, the rescue crew determined there was a crack in the hull somewhere on the forward bow," said Kevin Coyne, a search and rescue coordinator at the sector. "They couldn't control the flooding, so they removed all three fishermen."

A crew aboard a 29-foot Response Boat — Small, from Coast Guard Station Fort Myers Beach, rendezvoused with the crew of the Marlin at 4 a.m. Monday, brought the rescued fishermen aboard and transported them to the station.

According to the Coast Guard, no injuries or medical concerns were reported.

uscgnews.com