| Office of Public Affairs U.S. Coast Guard Seventh District |
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| Press Release |
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CASINO SHUTTLE BOAT BURNS TO ITS WATERLINE, PEOPLE RESCUED BY OFF-DUTY COAST GUARDSMAN NEW PORT RICHIE, Fla. - The Coast Guard responded to a boat fire aboard the Express Shuttle II around 10:30 this morning in the Pithlachascotee Channel near the mouth of the Coyte River. An HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla., was on a training mission when they heard the distress call from the 75-foot shuttle for the Sun Cruise Casino boat homeported in New Port Richie. The three people on board the shuttle boat were rescued by a Good Samaritan as Pasco County Fire Rescue, Towboat U.S., a Coast Guard Auxiliary boat and a rescue boat from Coast Guard Station Sand Key, Fla., headed to the scene. The Good Samaritan happened to be an off-duty rescue swimmer from Air Station Clearwater. Petty Officer Second Class Robert Morgan assisted the three people off of the shuttle and onto his personal boat and provided medical assessments. One of the three people was transferred to the hospital via ambulance for treatment of smoke inhalation. Towboat U.S.towed the Express Shuttle II up the Coyte River and tied it off to a day beacon. They are currently attempting to pump water out of the vessel to prevent it from sinking and to allow for further towing. The Coast Guard Marine Safety Office in Tampa, Fla., will be investigating the cause of the fire. Editor's note - There is no video available of this case. ### The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the |
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