Coast Guard Air Station Houston launched an HH-65C Dolphin helicopter crew and Sector Houston/Galveston diverted the patrol boat Heron to assist. Due to the extreme distance involved, Air Station Corpus Christi launched an HU-25 Falcon jet crew to assist as well.
The people on the boat reported 25-foot seas and 30-35 knot winds. There were two men on board and one woman, who had an injured leg. There was also a Pomeranian on board.
The helicopter crew arrived on scene at about 3 p.m. and hoisted the three people and the dog through the 30-35 knot winds. Due to the extreme distance involved, they had to land on an oil rig to refuel on their return trip. Increasingly heavy wind prevented them from leaving the oil rig for almost half an hour.
The helicopter crew brought the three people and the dog to Ellington Field, in Houston, where a family friend was waiting to bring them home.
