St. Mary Sheriff's Office plays role in Coast Guard rescue of boater

The Coast Guard rescued an overdue boater Wednesday after his boat ran aground near Vermillion Bay.

Coast Guard Sector New Orleans watch-standers received notification from St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office at approximately 2:08 a.m. of an overdue boater last reported aboard a 17-foot white center console recreational vessel in the vicinity of Vermillion Bay.

Sector New Orleans watch-standers coordinated the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and the launch of a Coast Guard Aviation Training Center HC-144 Ocean Sentry air crew to assist in the search.

Also searching were crews from the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office, the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

A good Samaritan aircraft located the aground vessel and vectored in the helicopter crew to the boater at approximately 10 a.m. The Jayhawk air crew arrived on scene and hoisted the boater aboard the helicopter and transported him to his vehicle at Cypremort Point.

No medical concerns were reported.