Coast Guard Rescues Man Trapped Inside Sinking Sailboat Near Coronado

CORONADO, CA — A Coast Guard crew member freed a man trapped inside a partially submerged sailboat near Coronado early Sunday morning.

The Coast Guard received a transferred 911 call around 4 a.m. Sunday from the man, who reported that his sailboat had run aground and was taking on water.

A Coast Guard boat crew from San Diego located the vessel but could not approach because of shallow water and hazardous conditions.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Ventura responded and lowered Petty Officer 2nd Class Mike Antoon, a rescue swimmer, to the sailboat.

Antoon found the man trapped inside the partially submerged cabin and struggling to breathe as waves washed over the vessel. He gave the man his snorkel before tearing open part of the cabin roof to free him.

The helicopter crew transported the man to Coast Guard Sector San Diego, where he was transferred to emergency medical personnel around 7:25 a.m. His condition was not immediately released.