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Coast Guard rescues four during back-to-back incidents

Posted at 1:30 PM, Mar 31, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-31 13:30:46-04

Virginia Beach, Va. – A crew at Coast Guard Station Little Creek conducted back-to-back rescues late Wednesday and early Thursday, resulting in the rescue of three adults and a child off the coast.

In the first case, watchstanders at Section Hampton Roads received a report around 10:00 p.m. Wednesday night that a 27-foot sailboat was disabled near Fort Wool with two men and a child aboard.

A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew took the sailboat in tow to Cobb’s Marina in Norfolk, where it moored at 1:24 a.m.

No injuries or pollution was reported.

In the second case, watchstanders receved a report at 1:54 a.m. Thursday that a 55-year-old man suffered chest pains aboard the Grandeur of the Seas cruise ship, located about four miles east of Cape Henry.

At 2:30 a.m., a Response Boat-Medium crew arrived at the ship and transferred the man, his wife, and a nurse. The crew arrived at the Virginia Beach Fishing Center at 3:28 a.m. where a waiting EMS crew transferred the man to Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital.

“Our operational crews are always ready to respond to emergency medical situations at all times,” said Capt. Keane, commander of Sector Hampton Roads. “The coordination between the cruise ship, U.S. Customs and the Coast Guard insured a rapid and effective response.”

“Station Little Creek’s training and endurance led them to be able to carry out these back-to-back cases,” said Petty Officer 1stClass Brent Massey, search and rescue controller with the operations unit at Sector Hampton Roads. “We’re proud of their training and skill to handle these two cases quickly.”