Coast Guard in Gulfport rescues 7 people and a dog from burning boat

The Coast Guard from Gulfport rescued seven boaters and a dog from a vessel fire near Gulfport on Saturday morning.

The Coast Guard received a mayday call over marine radio at 9:26 a.m. Saturday about a 45-foot Hatteras on fire with seven people and a dog aboard.

A Coast Guard aircrew diverted to the call and a rescue life raft when it a 45-foot Response Boat and crew to rescue the boaters.

The boatcrew arrived on scene and rescued the seven people and dog aboard their vessel from the life raft.  The crew then brought them back to Station Gulfport to be tended to by waiting emergency medical services personnel.

“Today officially kicks off National Safe Boating Week. The prudent actions of those aboard the Hatteras – hailing mayday to the Coast Guard and all personnel wearing life jackets, coupled with the quick actions of the aircrew deploying the life raft, ultimately allowed the Coast Guard to bring all seven back to shore safely.” said Lt. Cmdr. Kathleen Sullivan, a Sector Mobile search and rescue mission coordinator. “This case was a seamless example of teamwork and coordination between multiple different Coast Guard and local assets.”

All seven people were last reported in stable condition.