MARATHON (CBSMiami) – U.S. Customs and Border Protection rescued four people from a sinking boat about three miles south of Marathon.
It happened Wednesday morning.
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According to the agency, two Air and Marine Operations boat crews were conducting a training exercise in the area when they heard the distress call over their radios. The boat operator said they were in a 26-foot center console, quickly taking on large amounts of water, and were in danger of sinking.
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Both crews raced to the area and rescued the boat’s occupants.
They notified the U.S. Coast Guard, who arrived on the scene a short time later, and began to “dewater: the sinking vessel. Eventually, it was safely towed back to land.
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“When someone is in distress, their safety and well-being come before their citizenship, nationality, or immigration status,” said Supervisory Marine Interdiction Agent, Robert Sellers. “The same resources used for border security are immediately directed to those in need”.
