A child’s raft isn’t a seagoing vessel. But a little girl got swept out to sea on one
The worst fear of any beachgoing parent — especially one who has seen the movie or read the book “Jaws” — was ended by the U.S. Coast Guard.
A girl, estimated age 4 to 6, got swept out to sea Monday afternoon on her inflatable raft from waters off Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, the Coast Guard said Tuesday.
The Coast Guard launched a Special Purpose Craft — Law Enforcement from San Juan. An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast put boaters in the area on alert.
A good Samaritan on the beach near Isla de Cabras, Samuel Cruz Valcárcel, helped direct the SPC-LE boat in closer to the raft, which by now was a half mile offshore. When the Coast Guard got to her, the agency said, the girl and her raft were continuing to draft away from shore.
“This brave little girl was very fortunate to survive this ordeal, she did a great job of staying on her raft that was not a lifesaving device and could have easily tipped over at any moment; she was also wearing a life jacket.” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Jesse Wilde, Coast Guard Boat Station San Juan coxswain. “Despite the situation she was in good spirits; we’ll never forget her smile once she realized she was safe.”
The girl was brought back to the shore and taken to a hospital for a precautionary check.
