The U.S. Coast Guard said 37 suspected migrants were on board a vessel when rescue crews reached it Friday roughly 88 miles from Channel Islands Harbor off the Southern California coast.
The emergency response started at about 3:40 p.m., after the boat’s operator contacted the Coast Guard by radio and requested assistance.
Coast Guard crews brought the group of suspected migrants to shore, where they were transferred to U.S. Border Patrol personnel. (U.S. Coast Guard)
According to the operator, the boat had been adrift for two days with no fuel, food or water, and there was no personal safety equipment on board.
The Coast Guard said the suspected migrants spent two days drifting at sea without fuel, food or water. (U.S. Coast Guard)
The Coast Guard launched a broad search-and-rescue response, sending multiple crews to the area, including the cutters Sockeye and Halibut, boat crews from Los Angeles-Long Beach and Channel Islands stations, and an air crew.
Rescue teams located the vessel around 8:30 p.m. and safely transferred all 37 suspected migrants onto the Coast Guard Cutter Sockeye.
The Coast Guard said the 37 suspected migrants were rescued from a 30-foot pleasure craft about 90 miles off the Southern California coast. (U.S. Coast Guard)
“I could not be prouder of the Coast Guard crews on scene who were directly responsible for 37 lives saved last night,” said Master Chief Peter Nelson, the Sockeye’s officer in charge.
COAST GUARD SEIZES 7K POUNDS OF COCAINE WORTH MORE THAN $54 MILLION NEAR PUERTO RICO, FIVE ARRESTED
The Coast Guard brought all 37 suspected migrants to Coast Guard Base Los Angeles-Long Beach, where they were turned over to U.S. Border Patrol. (U.S. Coast Guard)
Nelson said crews carried out the rescue at night in rough conditions far from shore.
“Despite operating far offshore in rough conditions at night, they persevered until every person in danger was rescued,” Nelson said. “Their extraordinary professionalism, superb judgment, and impeccable seamanship shined throughout the entire case.”
The Sockeye brought the group to Coast Guard Base Los Angeles-Long Beach, where they were turned over to U.S. Border Patrol.
The Coast Guard did not say where the group was from, where the boat began its journey or where it was headed. (U.S. Coast Guard)
The Coast Guard did not immediately say where the group was from, where the boat began its journey or where it was headed.
