Coast Guard rescues 6 people from Portage River near Port Clinton
5/23/2014PORT CLINTON — The U.S. Coast Guard rescued six people from the Portage River near Port Clinton today after the vessel they were aboard began taking on water.
No one aboard the boat was injured in the incident, which was reported shortly before 1:30 p.m., said Chris Yaw, spokesman with the Ninth Coast Guard District. The names, or any other information about those rescued was not released.
A response crew from the Coast Guard‘s Toledo station arrived on the scene to find the vessel listing to the port side with its engine compartment flooded, according to a news release. Five passengers were removed from the vessel, while the owner stayed aboard while the commercial salvage relieved the vessel of the water it had taken on. No injuries were reported.
All passengers were taken back to Brands Marina where the source of the leak was found to be a decayed raw water hose, according to the Coast Guard.
Mr. Yaw said the incident is a good reminder for people to check their boats and equipment this spring before using their vessels.
"It‘s always a good idea to make sure you have enough fuel, life jackets and a clean engine,“ Mr. Yaw said. ”Make sure everything is operable and tell a friend or someone you trust where you are heading; that can save us a lot of time because we’ll have a better idea where they might be.“
Mr. Yaw also said people should also remember that although air temperatures are rising, water temperatures remain very cold and people who fall or go into the water are still at risk for hypothermia.
— Federico Martinez