PORT ST. JOE —- Naval crews have pulled a man to safety after his boat capsized near Cape San Blas, according to a Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division news release.
Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) “DragonMasters” Aviation Unit responded Monday at 11:45 a.m. to a distress call dispatched to NSWC PCD’s four man Search and Rescue (SAR) crew. The U.S. Coast Guard in Mobile, Alabama relayed a call from a man whose boat ran aground and capsized about three miles off the shore of Cape San Blas, officials reported.
The NSWC PCD SAR crew lifted off at 12:35 p.m. and was on-scene by 12:55 p.m.
According to NSWC PCD Aviation Unit Officer in Charge Cmdr. Mike Buckley, the crew was in constant contact with the distressed man. Once the man’s location was identified, the NSWC PCD SAR crew deployed Naval Air Crewman (Helicopter) Second Class Petty Officer (NAC/AW) Harrison Greenmaki via the rescue hoist down to the man who was still in the water. Within 10 minutes of responding to the scene, Greenmaki and the stranded man were pulled into the MH-60S aircraft and all returned to the NSWC PCD Aviation Unit.
Bay County Emergency Medical Services and Fire and Rescue personnel, U.S. Coast Guard, and Naval Support Activity Panama City Police were on the flight line awaiting the air crew’s return to NSWC PCD’s flight deck at about 1:30 p.m. local time. Bay County EMS personnel evaluated the man on the Navy base and he was released without transport to area hospitals. The U.S. Coast Guard transported the man off the base.