CG rescues 4 from capsized boat

FORT MACON, N.C. (WAVY) - Crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Elm rescued four boaters when their 27-foot pleasure boat capsized 20 miles east of Cape Hatteras Sunday afternoon.

Coast Guard watchstanders received a call from the crew of the vessel at 2:50 p.m. stating they were taking on water. The Elm was diverted from normal operations and arrived on scene at 3:12 p.m.

A Coast Guard rescue boat crew was also launched from Station Cape Hatteras.

"This case represents the effective use of safety equipment, including life jackets and a handheld VHF radio, that saved 4 lives today," said Craig Sanders, a civilian working out of USCG Sector North Carolina. "The Coast Guard's Rescue 21 system was able to confirm the location of the distressed mariners by triangulating their VHF mayday call, allowing the Elm to arrive on scene before hypothermia could set in."

The Elm is a 225-foot buoy tender homeported in Fort Macon, N.C.