The US Coast Guard and a good Samaritan vessel rescued five people from a sinking vessel 13 miles northwest of Cat Cays, Bahamas, on Saturday.
Watchstanders with Coast Guard Sector Miami Command Center received a mayday call over VHF-FM channel 16 from the vessel ‘La Bella’, stating they were taking on water with five people aboard. The watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and diverted the USCG Cutter Robert Yered to assist.
The good Samaritan vessel ‘Troy’ crew responded to the UMIB and transferred three people off the ‘La Bella’, as it attempted to make it back to Cat Cays.
The cutter Robert Yered arrived on scene with the La Bella, as it began to sink, and launched a small boat crew to rescue the remaining two people from the sinking La Bella who were attempting to make it back to Cat Cays.
All five people were safely rescued and brought back to Cat Cays with no reported injuries.
