Rescued: Coast Guard and Good Samaritan assist two men after their boat took on water

PORT WASHINGTON (WITI) -- The Coast Guard and a Good Samaritan rescued two men near Port Washington, Wisconsin, after their 18-foot pleasure craft began taking on water Tuesday morning, July 8th.

The names of the men are not being released.

Just after 9 a.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan in Milwaukee received a report of an 18-foot black and white vessel that was taking on water about three miles east of the Port Washington pier heads with two men on board.

Sector Lake Michigan dispatched a Coast Guard Station Sheboygan, Wisconsin, boat crew aboard a 45-foot response boat and a Coast Guard Air Facility Waukegan, Illinois, aircrew aboard a Dolphin helicopter.

They also issued an urgent marine information broadcast, that advises other boaters of the situation, asks them to keep a sharp lookout, to report all sightings to the nearest Coast Guard unit and to assist if possible.

The commercial fishing vessel Vans Catch II responded to the UMIB and assisted both men off the stricken vessel.



The response boat crew arrived on scene just after 9:45 a.m., local time and transferred both men from Vans Catch II, dewatered the sinking pleasure craft and placed it in a stern tow.

The men and their vessel were taken to the Port Washington Harbor boat ramp by the response boat crew.

There were no reports of any injuries or pollution and both men were wearing their life jackets.

"This is a great example of helping out your fellow boaters," said Mike Baron, the recreational boating safety specialist for the Coast Guard 9th District in Cleveland. "It also highlights the importance of inspecting your vessel before leaving the dock. Taking the time to do a quick inspection each time you go out can help catch issues before they become a problem."