Story by U.S. Coast Guard,
7th District Public Affairs

BRUNSWICK, GA - Coast Guard saves Brunswick fishermen after boat capsizes JACKSONVILLE, Fla., -- At Coast Guard Air Station Savannah, Ga., rescue crew hoisted two Brunswick, Ga. fishermen to safety 10:45 p.m.  Thursday after their 17-foot vessel capsized during a fishing trip in the Altamaha River, near Brunswick, Ga.

Roger Green, 56, and Donald Aspinwall, 48, left from the Champney River boat ramp to fish in Buttermilk Sound and were suppose to return by dark.  Green's wife called the Glynn County Police Department and the police department notified Coast Guard Station Brunswick that the two men were missing.  Coast Guard and Georgia Department of Natural Resource's rescue crews began searching for the two men in Buttermilk Sound.  A rescue helicopter crew from the Air Station Savannah also joined in the search efforts.

Within minutes, the helicopter crew located the two men.  The rescue crews from the Coast Guard and Georgia DNR were unable to reach the men because of shallow waters but could hear the Brunswick men yelling for help.  The HU-65 Dolphin helicopter crew lowered a rescue basket to the men and hoisted them safely into the aircraft.  The survivors were then flown to Malcolm McKinnon Airport, Ga.  Both men are reported to be in good condition but were turned over to awaiting local Emergency Medical Technicians.

Because Green knew to leave a float plan with his wife, the Coast Guard, Georgia DNR and the Glynn County Police were able to work together and quickly find the two fishermen.  The Coast Guard urges all boaters to keep proper safety equipment on board their vessel.