http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2013/09/22/five-rescued-from-sinking-boat
PORT COLBORNE - Five people are safe on shore after being rescued from a sinking boat in Lake Erie Sunday.
The Canadian Coast Guard reported Sunday afternoon that members of the Port Colborne Marine Auxiliary Rescue (POCOMAR) as well as Sandman, a Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary private vessel, rescued the passengers of boat that was taking on water off the shore of Port Colborne and towed the stricken boat to shore.
POCOMAR member Cal Peyton said the Coast Guard initially issued a marine assistance request broadcast at 12:35 p.m., looking for a nearby boat available to assist the five people from Brampton who were out on the lake fishing.
However, he said the request for assistance didn’t receive a response initially.
“Then they paged us and it didn’t get through right away to the guys who were on call,” he added.
But then Dan Pellerin, aboard Sandman, radioed that he was in the area.
“He declared himself a vessel of opportunity, and said he could be there,” Peyton said.
Meanwhile, Peyton and fellow POCOMAR member Scott Wolfe quickly put together a crew, and sailed out to assist.
After about 20 minutes, the crews of the two boats arrived at the 17-foot boat sinking in shallow water. The five people aboard the sinking boat were carried back to shore aboard the Sandman, while the POCOMOR crew turned their attention to trying to save the sinking boat.
“We hooked up the boat and tried to de-water it. But it didn’t work. It was taking on water faster than we could pump it out,” he said.
They carefully towed the boat back to Port Colborne, where the boat’s owner managed to pulled it out of the water.
Peyton said rescuers were unable to determine why the boat started sinking.
“Why it was taking on water is a mystery. We looked at it after but we couldn’t figure it out.”
It’s the second time since late August that the POCOMAR crew has rescued boaters in distress.
On Aug. 23, POCOMAR towed a capside boat back to shore after Niagara Regional Police rescued the four people aboard that boat.
“It’s been a busy summer.”
allan.benner@sunmedia.ca
PORT COLBORNE - Five people are safe on shore after being rescued from a sinking boat in Lake Erie Sunday.
The Canadian Coast Guard reported Sunday afternoon that members of the Port Colborne Marine Auxiliary Rescue (POCOMAR) as well as Sandman, a Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary private vessel, rescued the passengers of boat that was taking on water off the shore of Port Colborne and towed the stricken boat to shore.
POCOMAR member Cal Peyton said the Coast Guard initially issued a marine assistance request broadcast at 12:35 p.m., looking for a nearby boat available to assist the five people from Brampton who were out on the lake fishing.
However, he said the request for assistance didn’t receive a response initially.
“Then they paged us and it didn’t get through right away to the guys who were on call,” he added.
But then Dan Pellerin, aboard Sandman, radioed that he was in the area.
“He declared himself a vessel of opportunity, and said he could be there,” Peyton said.
Meanwhile, Peyton and fellow POCOMAR member Scott Wolfe quickly put together a crew, and sailed out to assist.
After about 20 minutes, the crews of the two boats arrived at the 17-foot boat sinking in shallow water. The five people aboard the sinking boat were carried back to shore aboard the Sandman, while the POCOMOR crew turned their attention to trying to save the sinking boat.
“We hooked up the boat and tried to de-water it. But it didn’t work. It was taking on water faster than we could pump it out,” he said.
They carefully towed the boat back to Port Colborne, where the boat’s owner managed to pulled it out of the water.
Peyton said rescuers were unable to determine why the boat started sinking.
“Why it was taking on water is a mystery. We looked at it after but we couldn’t figure it out.”
It’s the second time since late August that the POCOMAR crew has rescued boaters in distress.
On Aug. 23, POCOMAR towed a capside boat back to shore after Niagara Regional Police rescued the four people aboard that boat.
“It’s been a busy summer.”
allan.benner@sunmedia.ca