[Kathy in Alaska]

Good day to you, E! 29 degrees at my house this morning. Summer is winding down, and fall is here. Still sunny days, but it's just about time to need a jacket when I leave for work. How is your rainy season doing?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Sept. 12, 2003

COAST GUARD RESCUES CREW OF DOWNED HELICOPTER

FREEPORT, Texas – The Coast Guard rescued four crewmembers of a downed helicopter 18 miles south of Freeport in the Gulf of Mexico today.

The helicopter, owned by Go Helo Trans, went down with the four people onboard sometime before 5:30 p.m. Three of the four people climbed into the life raft after they landed in the water and the other attempted to swim to the nearest oil rig.

A short while later a pilot in another aircraft saw their life raft and notified a dispatcher at Scholes Airport in Galveston, Texas.

The dispatcher for Scholes Airport in Galveston contacted Coast Guard Group Galveston and notified them of the situation. The Coast Guard launched a helicopter from Air Station Houston and a small boat from Station Freeport to look for them. While the Coast Guard crews were on their way, Go Helo Trans called to let the Coast Guard know their helicopter was overdue.

The Coast Guard helicopter found the life raft and lowered a rescue swimmer to check on the crew. They told the rescue swimmer that the pilot swam to the nearest rig, so the Coast Guard crew aboard the small boat immediately began searching and rescued him.

The aircrew airlifted two of the crewmembers and transported them to Brazosport Airport, where EMS awaited them in an ambulance. The other two were taken via the small boat back to Station Freeport. The pilot suffered minor injuries and the condition of the others is unknown.

Having proper safety equipment onboard an aircraft or boat is crucial, especially before you find yourself in an emergency situation.

Video of the rescue is available at the guard shack at Ellington Field, Houston.

For questions contact PA3 Andrew Kendrick at 832-293-1304.

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The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the Department of Homeland Security dedicated to protecting the safety and security of America.

[E.G.C.]

It's nice and sunny and warm here. Temps in the 70's and 80's.

[Fawnn]

Mom wears a jacket in my house whenever she visits! (I keep it around 72-74 degrees in the summer and around 66 in the winter.) So this is the e-mail I sent her about your post:

Subject: Good thing you don't live with or visit "Kathy in Alaska"

Message:
<< "Good day to you, E! 29 degrees at my house this morning. Summer is winding down, and fall is here. Still sunny days, but it's just about time to need a jacket when I leave for work...."

29 and she only wears a "jacket" to work! ;) >>

Mom's reply:

"Hopefully it is fur lined"

Re-reading your post, I see that you said it's only "just about time to need a jacket." So, Kathy, when you DO need to wear a jacket to work, is it a fur-lined jacket? (PETA and my mother want to know.) ;)