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Three honored for aiding 5 in sinking boat
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Posted on Jan 12 2009
The Department of Public Safety has honored three civilians who assisted Boating Safety officers in rescuing five persons, including two minors, from a sinking boat near Mañagaha Island last Dec. 26.
DPS Commissioner Santiago Tudela and Boating Safety Section officers on Friday handed certificates of appreciation to Brian Reyes, Patrick Reyes, and Edwin Villagomez for “their outstanding performance” in assisting the officers in rescuing the victims.
DPS spokesperson Lei Ogumoro said yesterday that on Dec. 26 at 6:04pm, DPS received a call of a sinking boat located between Saipan and Mañagaha.
BSS officers responded to the distress call aboard rescue boat Zodiac III.
The officers met with the other boat being operated by Brian Reyes and his two crew members: Patrick Reyes and Edwin Villagomez.
BSS officers asked for the men’s help in ferrying the victims from the sinking boat into Zodiac III as the sinking boat was on the reef line, which was too shallow and would pose a danger to the rescue vessel if it enters the area.
The three civilians safely transported the five victims to Zodiac III.
After securing all the victims, Reyes and his crew members helped pull the sinking boat out of the reef line. BSS officers towed back the vessel to the Smiling Cove Marina.
The two female children, ages 7 and 12, complained of being cold. Medics, who were waiting at the Marina, attended to the children.
According to the victims’ boat operator, Jason B. Aldan, 29, he and two adults and the two children went out to do some snorkeling at Mañagaha.
At 5:30pm, Aldan’s group left Mañagaha and headed back to Saipan. While heading south between two reefs, a big wave hit the boat from behind, causing water to enter the vessel from the front portion.
Aldan tried to bail out the water, but water kept coming in from the side. Police were then called for assistance.
