Coast Guard Responding to Report of Child Swept Out to Sea Near Point Sal State Beach

DATE: April 15, 2009 9:37:19 PM PDT

Coast Guard Public Affairs Detachment Los Angeles

PRESS RELEASE

Date: April 15, 2009

Contact: Public Affairs
(310) 521-3610

Coast Guard Responding to Report of Child Swept Out to Sea Near Point Sal State Beach

GUADALUPE, Calf. – This afternoon, the U.S. Coast Guard responded to a report of a child that went missing in the water offshore Santa Barbara County.

Shortly after 5 p.m. the Sector Command Center received notification of a 9-year-old boy swept into the ocean off of Mussel Point near the North end of Vandenberg Air Force Base. The Coast Guard diverted an HH-65 helicopter that was flying in the area. Additionally, a 47-foot Motor Life Boat from Coast Guard Station Morro Bay was dispatched to the scene.

Initial witness reports came from another child who was on the beach at the time. These initial reports indicate the boy was seen in the water off of Mussel Point at 12 p.m.

Assets from the U.S. Coast Guard, Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department, Santa Barbara Search and Rescue Team, Santa Barbara Fire Department, Vandenberg Air Force Base Water Rescue and Guadalupe Fire Department are on scene and currently working in an Incident Command Post. A personal watercraft from Oceano Dunes Lifeguard is also on scene assisting with the search.

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