USCG rescues six people from flooding vessel near Baltimore

The U.S. Coast Guard says it assisted a family of six after their 22-foot vessel began taking on water Tuesday night near Fort Armistead, Maryland.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Maryland-National Capital Region received the initial report from the previous owner of the vessel at 8:00 p.m., who had been contacted by the new owner stating the vessel was taking on water.

A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Curtis Bay launched to assist.

Once on scene, the crewmembers took the vessel in tow to Fort Armistead Park, where the vessel was then dewatered.

“Getting on scene and seeing that both the parents and their four kids were wearing their life jackets was a phenomenal relief,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Brandon Jackson, the coxswain of the response boat. “It’s so important to already have on that life jacket before anything bad happens, especially when there’s a chance for you to enter the water.”