Coastie in distress takes long pause before calling Coast Guard for help
By Slab Squatthrust
SAN DIEGO — Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Paul Gould took an extended deep breath and a long pause before calling for help from the Coast Guard after his vessel started taking on water outside Coronado, a U.S. Coast Guard San Diego official told reporters.
The Coast Guard received the reluctant distress call around 4 p.m. when Gould swallowed his pride and reported his 20-foot pleasure craft was leaking water after he struck an unknown object.
The audio from the initial call to the Coast Guard Command Center went as follows: “Look…I know! Okay! I know, but I’m taking on water 3 miles West of Coronado with 1 person on board, my vessel is blue with white trim, and yes, (sigh) I have my life jacket on.”
The Coast Guard was able to launch a helicopter to drop a dewatering pump, several smoke flares, and a box of tissues.
“BM1 Gould is a seasoned mariner and a qualified boat coxswain at Small Boat Station San Diego, so it goes to show that even our best can be big cry-baby losers who can’t drive a boat even if their lives depended on it,” said Public Affairs Officer Barry Sullivan.