Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: March 10, 2008

Contact:  Lt. Russ Hall
(504) 393-6032

COAST GUARD RESCUES GROUNDED BOATER

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard rescued a 26 year-old man from a grounded vessel early this morning near Lake St. Catherine, 20 miles east of New Orleans.

A watchstander at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a call from the man's father that the vessel had run aground in an unknown part of Lake St. Catherine.  The watchstander was able to contact the subject using a cell phone.

Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans dispatched an HH-65C Dolphin rescue helicopter to the scene.  Once the crew arrived on scene, they began an extensive search, using directions provided by the man relayed through the Sector Command Center.  After locating the man using the light of his cellphone, the helicopter crew successfully hoisted and transported the man to West Jefferson Hospital in stable condition.

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U.S. Coast Guard - Saving lives since 1790