6 Boaters Rescued Near Sarasota

SARASOTA, FL — Six boaters are back on dry land after the U.S. Coast Guard plucked them out of waters about a mile west of Sarasota Sunday evening.

According to the guard, its watch standers at Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg received a notification from Kevin Kost, 57, of Sarasota just before 7 p.m. June 4. Kost used his marine band radio to report his 24-foot pontoon boat was taking on water. Kost and five others were about a mile west of New Pass Inlet.

The guard launched a recuse crew from Station Cortez aboard a 29-foot boat that was able to find the six by 7:20 p.m., a Monday morning email from the guard reported. Kost and his passengers, including three teenage children, were taken to the 10th Street boat ramp.

No injuries were reported.

“When I arrived on scene, I was very happy to see all six boaters wearing their life jackets," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Brigitta Lambright, crew member at Station Cortez. "It's always a good idea to start your voyage with the life jacket already on - you don't want to panic trying to find one during an emergency."

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Photos courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard