Coast Guard rescues two men and their dog

DATE: January 15, 2009 7:59:50 AM PST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

		Eleventh Coast Guard District
NEWS RELEASE	DATE: CONTACT	January 15, 2009 Public Affairs (510) 772-8865
Coast Guard rescues two men and their dog
ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Coast Guard rescued two men and their dog today after their pleasure craft ran aground on one of the numerous small islands dotting the waterway near Rio Vista. Coast Guard Station Vallejo received a distress call Tuesday night at approximately 9 p.m. A 25-foot rescue boat from Station Vallejo responded to the distress call Tuesday night but determined they could not get close enough to assist the stranded boaters. The Coast Guard set up a communication schedule between the stranded boaters and Vessel Assist San Francisco. Station Vallejo returned to the scene Wednesday morning at approximately 10:30 a.m. Once on scene with the stranded vessel the rescue crew determined the water was still too shallow to assist the two men and their dog. The crew then deployed a rescue swimmer to check on the safety of the stranded boaters and to deliver a cell phone to maintain communications. The rescue crew remained on scene until an MH-65 rescue helicopter, from Air Station San Francisco, was diverted from a routine patrol to rescue the two men and their dog at approximately 1 p.m., Wednesday. The two men and their dog were transported to Concord Airport around 3 p.m. They were all reported in good condition. VIDEO OF RESCUE ###