Coast Guard Rescues 25 Migrants Stranded in Capsized Boat for 3 Days off California Coast

U.S. Coast Guardsmen responded to a notification of an overturned boat about 100 miles off the coast of Southern California. The search led to the rescue of 25 people who had been hanging to the small craft for approximately three days.

A U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tern crew responded to a call from a good Samaritan who said they found a capsized boat about 100 miles west of Point Loma, California, on Friday evening. The crew traveled to the report area and found the boat with 25 people hanging on.

@USCGPacificSW #BravoZulu to the #USCG Cutter Tern crewmembers for rescuing 25 persons from a stranded boat about 100 miles west of Point Loma on Friday morning. The passengers were stranded for approximately three days when a good samaritan notified the #CoastGuard #SanDiego pic.twitter.com/WZnrQv88cn

— USCGPacificSouthwest (@USCGPacificSW) October 22, 2021

Coast Guard officials said the passengers reported being stranded for approximately three days before being rescued.

San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke tweeted that the human smuggling incident could have turned out much worse.

This suspected human smuggling event could’ve ended much worse. People put their lives in the hands of smugglers who only care for profit. Thankfully, the professionals @USCG could rapidly respond to the good samaritan report. #USBP will continue to combat coastal smuggling. https://t.co/MbFKZbxQlc

— Chief Patrol Agent Aaron M. Heitke (@USBPChiefSDC) October 27, 2021

“People put their lives in the hands of smugglers who only care for profit,” Chief Heitke stated. “Thankfully, the professionals @USCG could rapidly respond to the good samaritan report.”