By U.S. Coast Guard Southwest District
SAN DIEGO — A Coast Guard Air Station Ventura aircrew rescued a man trapped aboard a grounded sailboat near Coronado, California, Sunday morning.
At 4 a.m., Joint Harbor Operations Center watch standers received a transferred 911 call from the man reporting his vessel was aground and taking on water.
A Coast Guard Station San Diego boat crew located the vessel but was unable to approach due to shallow water and hazardous conditions.
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew arrived on scene and lowered Petty Officer 2nd Class Mike Antoon, an aviation survival technician, to assist.
Antoon found the man trapped inside the partially submerged cabin and struggling to breathe as waves washed over the vessel. Antoon provided the man with his snorkel before tearing open part of the cabin roof to free him.
The helicopter crew transported the man to Coast Guard Sector San Diego, where he was transferred to awaiting emergency medical services personnel at approximately 7:25 a.m.
“I’m incredibly fortunate enough to be able to do this job,” said Antoon, “This morning was a culmination of everyone working smoothly as a crew, including sector getting us there in time, and a bit of good fortune.
