Coast Guard rescues four fishermen

Coast Guard rescues four fishermen

Reported by: Carson Chambers

CLEARWATER, FL -- The Coast Guard rescued four fishermen that were aboard a commercial fishing boat today after the boat began taking on water.

Captain Darren Stanwood of Orlando, Tom Hunter of Zephyrhills, Dennis Grimm of Madeira Beach and Lisa Mercer of Hudson were all aboard the Lady Juanita when it went down.

After four foot waves began crashing over the bow of the vessel, Stanwood called the Coast Guard out of St. Petersburg around 6:30 this morning. The four men jumped into a life raft shortly afterwards.

"The fact that the Lady Juanita crew members kept the proper life-saving equipment onboard the vessel was instrumental in saving their lives," said Petty Officer First-Class Heath Montembeault.

Coast Guard members responded with a helicopter which lifted the men to safety. The survivors are in good health and have no reported injuries according to Coast Guard officials.