A British Royal Navy helicopter crew rescued three mariners Thursday from the vessel Ferrel which was located near Vieques, Puerto Rico.
An adult male mariner was reported deceased in the capsized vessel which is inaccessible to search and rescue crews.
A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater HC-130 Hercules search plane located the vessel overturned with three mariners on top at approximately 11:30 a.m. A Royal Fleet Auxiliary Mounts Bay rescue helicopter was vectored to the vessel and hoisted one adult female and two children.
Coast Guard, Navy and British Royal Navy participated in this operation with the following crews:
- A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater HC-130 Hercules search plane
- A Coast Guard Fast Response Cutter
- The U.S.S. Kearsarge
- A Navy MH-60 helicopter
- The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Mounts Bay with a search and rescue helicopter and an embarked Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment Team 101
- A Customs and Border Protection P-3 search plane
Coast Guard District Seven watchstanders received an alert via emergency position indicating radio beacon and then a distress call Wednesday from the Ferrel stating they were disabled and adrift in 20-foot seas and 100-knot winds.
An urgent marine information broadcast was issued immediately after the distress call.
