The Auxiliary “Jersey Boys” assist down South

The "Jersey Boys" down South had a great search and rescue (SAR) case in District 7.

Auxiliarists Ken Eisenberg and Gil Finkelstein from Flotilla 85, Brigantine, NJ and Auxiliarists Jerry Edelman and Mark Brody former New Jersey guys now residing in Boca Raton, FL got together to do a patrol on Martin Luther King Day last week.

The holiday was a good day to do a patrol on board an Auxiliary vessel, a 26' Boston Whaler.  We started out at Boca Inlet at mid-morning for an offshore run down the coast to CG Station Fort Lauderdale.  We fueled up and had our noon chow at the Station.

Heading back at 8 knots to our Boca area of responsibility we paused outside Hillsboro Inlet to check out a small boat seemingly in distress.  The small boat waved us off as they resolved their problem.

No sooner than we turned around to exit the inlet we saw a large plume of dense black smoke about 3 miles off Lighthouse Point.  Our crew, Coxswain Marc Brody, crew members Jerry Edelman, Gil Finkelstein and Ken Eisenberg hung tight as we sped out of the Inlet full throttle notifying Sector Miami of the boat fire.

We arrived first on scene (see photos) as the vessel was fully engulfed in flame.  The two crew of the distressed vessel were picked out of the water just as we arrived by a local Good Samaritan.  We quickly transferred the two soaking wet victims to our vessel.

After initial observation it was obvious that they were suffering from hypothermia.  Our crew had them remove their wet clothes and gave them towels and dry clothing.  Auxiliarist Marc Brody, a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) continually checked their vitals to prevent shock.  Sector Miami was given constant updates on the situation of the fire and two victims.

Florida Fish & Wildlife and Broward County Sheriff’s  vessels arrived on scene along with 33’ Coast Guard vessel.  Spectator boats gathered to watch the fire but all kept at a safe distance in case the fuel exploded.  The two victims were released into the care of the Broward County Sheriff.

Once the fire was out with just white smoke visible, Sector Miami released our Auxiliary vessel from the scene.  Sadly a $125,000 boat was lost today but two men, one being Coast Guard retired, safely returned to their families.

~NGS 02-05-10