Coast Guard rescues five from capsized boat in Chesapeake Bay

The U.S. Coast Guard says it rescued five people from the water after their boat capsized near the Old Plantation Flats Light near Cape Charles, Thursday.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Station Cape Charles were contacted via VHF-FM radio channel 16 by good Samaritans aboard the pleasure craft Real Joy, who notified them of a capsized boat with four men and one woman in the water at approximately 10:15 a.m.

A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium rescue crew from Station Cape Charles launched to assist.

Good Samaritans aboard two fishing boats and two recreational boats assisted the mariners in distress by throwing lifejackets to them and positioning their vessels to prevent waves from disturbing the capsized boat.

Once on scene, Coast Guard crewmembers located the boaters sitting on top of their capsized boat and transferred them to the RBM.

The Coast Guard rescue crew transported the boaters to Station Cape Charles where they met awaiting EMS.

“It’s good to see mariners keeping a solid watch and helping each other out,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Dylan Nigh, coxswain of the Coast Guard rescue boat. “Sometimes fellow mariners are the first responders – these good Samaritans did the right thing by contacting us as soon as possible and safely helping out in any way they could.”