Family Of 6 Rescued From Boat In Baltimore, Coast Guard Says

BALTIMORE, MD — After a boat started taking on water Tuesday night near Baltimore, the Coast Guard came to the rescue. Its response boat towed a family of six to Fort Armistead.

Officials said the incident serves as a reminder to wear life jackets and to inspect boats before embarking on the water.

According to the Coast Guard, six family members were out on a 22-foot boat Tuesday night when it began filling up with water. The owner alerted the boat's previous owner, who then contacted the Coast Guard around 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6. The agency sent a response boat to help.

When they arrived, officials said they were thankful the family was prepared for the emergency.

"Getting on scene and seeing that both the parents and their four kids were wearing their life jackets was a phenomenal relief," Petty Officer 2nd Class Brandon Jackson said in a statement Wednesday, Aug. 7.

"It’s so important to already have on that life jacket before anything bad happens, especially when there’s a chance for you to enter the water," Jackson said.

Severe thunderstorms bore down on Baltimore Tuesday night, leading to flooding in some areas after inches of rain fell in a short period of time.

While weather is always a factor in situations on the water, human error prompted the emergency, according to the Coast Guard.

The cause of the boat taking on water was determined to have been a boat plug that was not put in, Petty Officer 3rd Class Ronald Hodges told Patch Wednesday, Aug. 7. He said that it's a common occurrence and reminded boaters to be vigilant.

"No matter how many times boaters go out," Hodges said, "they should make those basic checks before going out on the water."

A boat plug stops up the drainage hole near the keel of the boat and is sometimes removed when vessels are dry-docked to drain bilge water. They should be in place to seal boats out on the water.

The family of six was towed to Fort Amistead Park by the Coast Guard's 45-foot response boat. There, officials said the boat was drained.