Coast Guard forced to make emergency landing in Santa Cruz after rescue

The Coast Guard rescued two people from a sinking boat approximately three miles off the coast of Año Nuevo State Park, Thursday.

The owner of the 57-foot Chris-craft, Never Say Never, contacted Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders at approximately 5:30 p.m., reporting that his boat was taking on water.

The command center watchstanders diverted a Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and a Coast Guard Station Golden Gate 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew to the reported location of the boat.

The Dolphin helicopter crew arrived on scene approximately 10 minutes after they were notified, but had difficulty locating the Never Say Never through the dense fog.

The aircrew, using VHF channel 16 radio direction-finding equipment, was able to locate the Never Say Never.

The aircrew hoisted the two people aboard the Dolphin and departed en route to Watsonville airport. However, due to low fuel, the aircrew landed in the parking lot of the Sky View Flea Market in Santa Cruz, California.

Watchstanders coordinated with local police and emergency services to meet the aircrew as one of the survivors reported that they were experiencing chest pain.

Both rescued mariners were transferred to Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz.

“The most challenging part about this rescue was the dense fog offshore,” said Lt. Cmdr. Mike Dubinksy, the aircraft commander of the rescue helicopter. “This is a harsh reminder of the dangerous conditions we see this time of year near the coastlines. The sunshine can be very inviting, but the water is still very cold and the marine layer can surround you within minutes, making it very difficult to navigate back to shore.”

The Coast Guard reminds mariners that a VHF radio or an emergency position-indicating radio beacon are the best ways for mariners to communicate a distress to the Coast Guard.