Coast Guard Rescues Man After Six Hours In Water

A Coast Guard helicopter crew from Air Station New Orleans rescued a man on Saturday after the 30-ft. bait boat he was operating capsized in the Mississippi Sound 10 miles southeast of Pascagoula, Miss.

The Coast Guard was notified 10:15 a.m. by the crew of a passing fishing vessel that there was a capsized 30-ft. boat located 6 miles south of Pascagoula. A helicopter was dispatched from Air Station New Orleans to assist a 47-ft. patrol boat from Station Pascagoula and a rescue jet from Aviation Training Center Mobile, Ala., in locating any vessel occupants.

On scene the helicopter crew located Anthony Weaver, 36, of Bayou Casotte, Miss., clinging to debris approximately four miles northeast of where his overturned bait boat was located. A rescue swimmer was deployed to assist Weaver in the water and to prepare him for a basket hoist into the helicopter.

Showing signs of moderate hypothermia, the aircrew transported Weaver to Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula where he is reported to be in stable condition.