Deal Lifeguards Rescue Three From Capsized Hobie Cat
Fourth Victim Rescued After Attempting To Assist Lifeguards
Despite 25 to 25 mile per hour winds, deal lifeguards successfully rescued four people off the shore of Deal Casino beach Sunday afternoon.
Police officials said they were dispatched near 2:45 p.m. for reports of a capsized vessel with victims in the water. Upon arrival lifeguards Bailey Crochet and Jake Shirley were observed rowing out to rescue the occupants. The officers on scene contacted the U.S. Coast Guard and they dispatched to the scene.
Lifeguards Shirley and Crochet [at right] were able to reach all three occupants of the capsized vessel within minutes while fighting the 25-30 mile per hour southeast winds, police officials said.
The two were guiding the disabled vessel, a Hobie Cat catamaran, to shore with all three occupants safely on board when a second Hobie Cat arrived on scene. One of the occupants of the second vessel then entered the water in an attempt to assist but became a fourth victim.
Crochet and Shirley then assisted the fourth victim and brought all four to safety.
Police officials said the the first Hobie Cat’s mast snapped at the base which caused the vessel to become disabled.
Lt Matt Sharin, Sgt Brian Egan, Ptl Jeff Kelss, Dale Wong, Chris Schou, Robert Graziano, Jenifer Velasquez, Joseph Calao responded to the scene.
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