Family of four rescued after clinging to overturned boat in Gulf of Mexico

A family of four was found clinging to their overturned boat in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday.

A family of four out for a day on the water clung to the underside of their overturned boat until they could be plucked by rescuers from the Gulf of Mexico.

The parents and their children, aged 11 and 8, sent out a distress call on the radio Wednesday morning to report that their 20-foot vessel was taking on water, according to a press release from the Coast Guard. They were not far off the shores of Venice, La., at the time.

Search and rescue crews were able to locate the family about 17 miles south of the Southwest Pass. All four of them were “holding onto the side of the overturned vessel” when they were spotted by rescuers, according to authorities.

Once on the scene, a helicopter crew lowered a rescue swimmer into the water until additional crew arrived and helped to save all four people.

“The fact that they were able to call in on channel 16 using their radio and reported the situation and how many people were aboard greatly assisted the crews in the search,” said Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Plummer, search and rescue mission coordinator for the Coast Guard’s New Orleans sector.

“The crews knew what they were looking for and the general area the call came from which resulted in the family’s safe return.”

The family members, who were all wearing life jackets, were not injured in the incident. They were all transported by helicopter back to Venice Marina, where they declined medical attention.