Coast Guard Saves 5 After Rescue Boat Capsizes Off Puerto Rico

Five people are safely home tonight after a rescue mission turned into a rescue itself when 10-foot waves capsized two boats off Puerto Rico's coast Tuesday evening.

Coast Guard watchstanders received a distress call just after 9 p.m. about a capsized 22-foot vessel near Isla de Cabras in Toa Baja. Two boaters were clinging to their overturned boat in rough seas.

Multiple agencies immediately launched rescue efforts. The Coast Guard dispatched a 45-foot Response Boat and an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter, while U.S. Customs and Border Protection sent a marine unit and Puerto Rico Police deployed their own helicopter.

Then the dangerous conditions claimed another victim. As the CBP marine unit approached the struggling boaters through massive swells, their vessel capsized too, throwing three federal agents into the churning water.

Now five people needed saving instead of two. The Coast Guard boat crew couldn't reach them because the deteriorated sea state and reef line made it too dangerous.

That's when teamwork became the difference between life and death. The Puerto Rico police helicopter crew swooped in first, pulling one boater and one CBP agent from the water and flying them to safety at Isla de Cabras.

The Coast Guard helicopter arrived moments later. Their rescue swimmer deployed into the rough seas and helped hoist the remaining three people to safety aboard the aircraft.

All five survivors were flown to Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport in San Juan, where emergency medical personnel were waiting. Everyone was treated for minor injuries.

The Bright Side

This harrowing rescue showcases what happens when multiple agencies train together and trust each other under pressure. The coordination between Coast Guard, CBP, Puerto Rico Police, and local air traffic control turned a potentially tragic night into a testament to preparedness and courage.

"The quick actions by FURA and CBP AMO allowed for constant eyes on all five people in the water and their prompt rescue," said Lt. David Tirado-Tolosa, the Coast Guard helicopter commander. He acknowledged the high-risk environment rescue crews face every mission.

Commander Zach Geyer, the Coast Guard's Search and Rescue mission coordinator, praised the CBP crew's "courageous effort" in making a calculated risk to save lives. Their willingness to put themselves in danger, even when it meant becoming victims themselves, exemplifies the dedication of rescue professionals.

Strong coordination across multiple agencies safely de-conflicted crowded airspace and ultimately brought everyone home.