US Coast Guard Successfully Rescues Four Canadians from Capsized Catamaran Off North Carolina Coast

Rescue mission triggered by emergency signal from capsized 60-foot charter yacht, Moon Dragon, 140 miles southeast of Wilmington; all four people on board found safe in life raft, with no injuries reported after airlift.

• The U.S. Coast Guard successfully carried out a rescue mission for four Canadians onboard a capsized 60-foot catamaran, named the Moon Dragon, 140 miles southeast of Wilmington, North Carolina.
• The crew onboard the catamaran encountered flooding after both the port and starboard side hatches broke, prompting them to abandon ship and utilize a covered life raft for safety.
• The Coast Guard's 5th District Command Center in Portsmouth, Virginia, initiated the rescue operation following an emergency signal from the distressed vessel, locating the capsized catamaran and life raft with an airplane crew.
• Rescue footage captured the Coast Guard's Jayhawk helicopter crew hoisting the individuals from the rough waters, airlifting them to Air Station Elizabeth City, and subsequently transferring them to a local hospital; importantly, none of the passengers suffered injuries.
• Preparedness of the catamaran crew, including having an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon, a functional radio, and a life raft on board, played a crucial role in the successful execution of the rescue mission.
• Although the passengers have been rescued, the capsized and partially submerged catamaran remains a hazard for other mariners in the area, prompting the Coast Guard to issue a navigation warning.

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