Navy Ship's Wake Frees Stranded Pleasure Boat

The wake of a passing Navy ship helped the Coast Guard save a boater stranded on the rocks at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel this morning. A call that a recreational boater was stuck on the rocks at first island of the bridge came in at 9:40 a.m. Beach rescue officials and the Coast Guard responded, and found the boater could not get out of his craft, said Coast Guard Lt.j.g. Scott Higbee.The Coast Guard had trouble reaching the boater, and they considered a rescue attempt by fire fighters from the land – or even reaching the man by air. Along came the Navy. An unidentified ship passed, and its wake lifted the stranded boat free and clear. The Coast Guard tied the damaged 18-foot craft to the side of a 25-foot response boat, and took the stranded man to shore.