25 People Rescued From Stranded Boat Off San Diego Coast

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25 people stranded on a boat 100 miles off the San Diego coast were rescued by the Coast Guard on Friday morning (October 22).

According to 10News, the Cost Guard said the individuals were stranded for around three full days before a good Samaritan noticed and contacted authorities for help.

That person was a local captain, Markus Medak, who said he happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Captain Medak told 10News that he was on the first day of a three-day fishing trip. As the crew was catching tuna early Thursday morning (October 21), Medak said he saw faint lights in the distance.

Then around 1:00 A.M. on Friday, about 100 miles west of Point Loma, Captain Medak when they noticed where the lights were coming from.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, a panga-style boat carrying 25 passengers - 23 Mexican nationals, and two people from Guatemala - had been stranded for three days.

“I feel really fortunate that we found them when we did. And I think one more night it would have had a tragic ending, and I feel that pretty strongly," said Captain Medak.

According to 10News, all 25 people on the boat were later transferred into the custody of US Customs and Border Protection.


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