BOATING Safety officers rescued a man who was stranded aboard his distressed vessel west of Tinian on Wednesday afternoon.
The victim, David Babauta, was in good condition when police officers rescued him at 5 p.m., according to Department of Public Safety spokesman Pete C. Muna.
Muna said investigation showed that Babauta left Sugar Dock on Saipan at 10:30 a.m. that day and headed south to Tinian Unai Babui Beach on a 13-footer boat for bottom fishing.
Throughout the time Babauta was fishing, there was another vessel near his boat.
Babauta’s boat later drifted away from the other vessel. His engine would not start so he called the other boat for assistance.
The other boat contacted the Emergency Management Office through radio to report the distressed vessel.
Babauta said he kept calling the other boat to assist him, but the operator never responded.
Upon receiving the distress call relayed by EMO at 3:32 p.m., two Boating Safety officers immediately departed Garapan fishing base on Zodiac II.
While the officers were traveling west of Tinian, they spotted the distressed vessel and Babauta. The officers reached Babauta’s location at 5:02 p.m.
The officers then safely towed the boat back to Sugar Dock.
