HOUSTON
— The Coast Guard rescued one ferry passenger who fell into the water off
Galveston, Texas, Monday.
Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston command center
watchstanders received a report at 11:30 a.m. over VHF-FM channel 16 from
personnel aboard the John W. Johnson, a nearby passenger vessel, who saw an
adult male fall off the Gibb Gilchrist ferry in the vicinity of
Seawolf Park.
Sector Houston-Galveston command center personnel issued
an urgent marine information broadcast while an already on-scene
45-foot Response Boat–Medium boat crew from Coast Guard Station Freeport
diverted to assist.
The RB–M boat crew located the person in the water, pulled
the individual aboard and transferred the man to awaiting emergency medical
services personnel at Coast Guard Station Galveston. No injuries were
reported.
"We encourage mariners to keep a sharp lookout for signs of
danger and to call for help immediately at the first sign of distress,"
said Petty Officer 1st Class Chase Carey, operations unit controller,
Sector Houston-Galveston. "Thanks to the vigilance and quick actions
of the John W. Johnson ferry crew, our boat crew was able to swiftly and
safely and pull the man from the water."
