POINT JUDITH , R.I., Nov. 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. Coast Guard said it rescued a windsurfer stranded on rocks near Rhode Island's Point Judith.
The rescuers launched a 45-foot response boat and crew Wednesday afternoon after a man reported his windsurfing partner's surfboard failed, leaving her stranded on rocks outside the small harbor in Narragansett Bay.
With the boat unable to get close enough to the rocks, Petty Officer 3rd Class Andres Rios jumped into the water, swam to the rocks and safely rescued the unidentified windsurfer, transporting her to the boat, where she received medical care, a Coast Guard statement said.
"Once we got on scene, we knew we had to act fast because she was most likely hypothermic," said Petty Officer Christopher DiGiovanni, coxswain of the response boat. "We had about 15 yards between the bow and the jetty to send a surface swimmer out to safely assist her from the rocks. With our knowledge, experience and training we were able to get her safely to our boat and transfer her care to emergency services personnel waiting on shore."
