On 23 January 2012 at 0559 UTC a person who was in the Island Park Reservoir area in Idaho made a cell phone call to the Fremont County Sheriff to report he was lost. The sheriff told him to activate his PLB so his location could be determined. At 0614 UTC, the COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a 406 MHZ PLB distress signal at 44 23.8N, 111 30.1W, 6 miles southwest of Island Park, ID. The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center contacted the Fremont County Search and Rescue team which used the SARSAT coordinates to locate and rescue the PLB's owner in good condition.
One SARSAT rescue.
Date:
January 11
Location:
Approx. 12NM southeast of Toms River, NJ
Description of Rescue:
The COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a registered 406 MHz EPIRB in position 39 49.9N 73 52.2W about 12NM southeast of Toms River, NJ. The fishing vessel Mandy Ness, with two people aboard, automatically activated the vessel’s EPIRB by an unknown accident. Coast Guard District 5 Rescue Coordination Center (CGD05) received the alert and began investigating. CGD05 contacted the wife of the registered owner, who verified the Mandy Ness was under way along with a fleet of other fishing vessels. The wife contacted one of the vessels in the fleet which began radio call outs to the Mandy Ness with negative results. The last boat in the fleet, the Francis Ann, turned around to search for the Mandy Ness, and ran into its debris field. The Francis Ann located the capsized hull of the Mandy Ness and pulled 1 fisherman out of the water. The survivor notified the Francis Ann there was another individual trapped in the vessel. CGD05 dispatched a helicopter from Station Atlantic City which arrived on site and deployed rescue divers. After several attempts the trapped fisherman was freed from the wreckage. However, while being transported back to shore the fisherman who had been trapped, succumbed to injuries sustained in the ordeal.
One SARSAT rescue.
Date:
January 8
Location:
Approx. 101NM NE of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Description of Rescue:
The COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a registered 406 MHz EPIRB later determined to be in position 20 26.1N 73 30.2W about 101NM NE of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The S/V Gypsy Moon, with one person aboard, became de-masted and the EPIRB was manually activated. Coast Guard District 5 (CGD05) received the unlocated alert and began investigating with registration information. A few minutes later, the CG Cutter Mohawk received a radio Distress call from the Gypsy Moon. The CGC Mohawk correlated the radio call with the alert received by CGD05 and headed toward the position radioed by the Gypsy Moon. The Mohawk rendezvoused with the Gypsy Moon and rescued the sole crew member with no injuries. The Mohawk left the Gypsy Moon adrift and took the survivor to Guantanamo Bay.
One SARSAT rescue.
Date:
January 7
Location:
Approx. 4 miles north of Block Island State Airport, Rhode Island
Description of Rescue:
The COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a 406 MHZ EPIRB distress signal at 41 14.8N 071 29.6W approximately 4 miles north of Block Island State Airport, Rhode Island. The EPIRB of the power fishing vessel Elizabeth Helen, with two people on board, was activated when the vessel capsized. Coast Guard District One (CGD01) launched a 47ft small boat and a helicopter after they received the first SARSAT alert. The 47 ft located the two people on a life raft by following the flare shot by them. The helicopter returned to base and the two people were taken on board the small boat. No injuries reported.
