Beacon device helps save capsized boaters miles away from Pinellas County beach

PASS-A-GRILLE BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) — A pair of boaters were rescued after their boat capsized off of Pass-a-Grille Beach.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office’s dispatch reported that two adults were in distress at 12:08 p.m.

Deputies and a Coast Guard air crew worked to rescue the boaters using a survivor’s personal locator beacon to find them.

The air crew located the boaters about 18 miles off shore. One of the survivors was hoisted onto the helicopter while the other was saved by Pinellas County deputies.

“The boaters in distress carried a crucial piece of lifesaving equipment we encourage the public to carry onboard their vessel,” said Lt. Dave Strojny, MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircraft commander. “ Life jackets , an EPIRB , a PLB , visual signaling devices and a marine grade radio with VHF-FM channel 16 improve our Coast Guard crews’ abilities to locate mariners in distress.”

Both boaters were taken to the Bay Pines Boat Ramp after the rescue.

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