VB fire boat locates lost boaters

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. - A Virginia Beach fire boat located a 19 foot boat lost in dense fog one mile off the coast of Virginia and escorted the fisherman back to safety.

On December26, 2009, the Coast Guard requested the assistance of a Virginia Beach fire boat in locating a boat that had called for assistance. Heavy fog and high seas had disoriented the fisherman onboard and they could not find their way back to the marina. The VB fire boat located the 19 footer using coordinates supplied by the Coast Guard and escorted them back to the Owls Creek Marina. The lost boat did not have a GPS system and was not properly equipped for a winter ocean voyage.

The Coast Guard, VBPD and VBEMS marine patrols assisted in the search.