6 People Rescued from Sinking Boat Near Freeport, Texas
A video that was posted to social media shows a terrifying scenario playing out just off of the coast of Texas. According to an article published by wfaa, Watchstanders received a call just before noon about a 32-foot vessel taking on water. The people on the boat told watchstanders that their three dewatering pumps weren't working and that they had to abandon the boat.
Rescue operations were immediately put into action as the Coast Guard launched a 45-foot rescue boat and their Dolphin helicopter to locate and rescue. All of the occupants of the boat were found on a life raft about five miles south of the Brazos River near Freeport. No one was injured. What a scary situation to live through.
According to the article, the Coast Guard stressed the importance of having reliable communication equipment on your vessel for such situations.
"We can’t stress enough the importance of having reliable, efficient communication equipment on board your vessel," Tyler Downes with the USCG's Sector Houston-Galveston said. "Every second matters during an emergency on the water, and a marine radio can be a direct lifeline for you and everyone on your boat."
THESE ARE THE MOST CONTAMINATED BEACHES IN TEXAS
#1. COLE PARK IN CORPUS CHRISTI
Cole Park beach was tested 68 times in 2020 and 62 times, which is 91%, and the results came back with unsafe water.
2. ROPES PARK, CORPUS CHRISTI(NOW CLOSED)
Ropes Park beach was tested 54 times in 2020 and 40 times, which is 74%, and the results came back with unsafe water.
#6 CORPUS CHRISTI MARINA
The Corpus Christi Marina was tested 40 times in 2020 and 23 times, which is 57%, the results came back with unsafe water.
#8 SARGENT BEACH IN BAY CITY
Sargent beach was tested 40 times in 2020 and 20 times, which is 50%, the results came back with unsafe water.
#9 JETTY BEACH IN MATAGORDA COUNTY
Sargent beach was tested 43 times in 2020 and 20 times, which is 50%, the results came back with unsafe water.
Check out the full list by clicking here.
According to a recent report by environemttexas.org, if you're heading to a Texas beach for fishing or swimming, there's a chance that you might be swimming in #2. Fecal contamination makes beaches unsafe for swimming. Possible side effects from swimming in fecally contaminated water can be gastrointestinal illness as well as respiratory disease, ear, and eye infections, and skin rash. Every year in the U.S., people contract an estimated 57 million cases of recreational waterborne illness from swimming in oceans, lakes, rivers, and ponds.