Navy destroyer rescues boaters off San Diego coast

Christy Simeral
·1 min read

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A U.S. Navy ship rescued two boaters off San Diego’s coast earlier this month.

On March 4, the USS Curtis Wilbur, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer homeported in San Diego, responded to a mayday distress call from two men stranded at sea. The ship was able to locate the boat and found it sinking, with one man in the water and the other still partially on of the boat.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) responded to a distress call from two boaters stranded off the coast of San Diego, March 4.
The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) responded to a distress call from two boaters stranded off the coast of San Diego, March 4.

The ship deployed an inflatable boat and a search-and-rescue swimmer to save the two men. The crew then gave the boaters medical examinations and dry clothes.

A Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter then took the boaters to San Diego.

“I could not be more proud of the Sailors on Curtis Wilbur for their quick response and display of professionalism,” Cmdr. Joseph Foster, commanding officer of USS Curtis Wilbur, is quoted saying in a news release. “Each Sailor involved showcased their training, and expertly saved two men at sea today.”

Last week, another two boaters had to be rescued after their 38-foot vessel struck a shallow area in San Diego Bay and started taking on water. Coast Guard crewmembers were able to remove water from the vessel, which was later safely towed to Driscoll Boat Works in Shelter Island for repairs.

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