Coast Guard rescues stranded grandfather, granddaughter

The U.S. Coast Guard made a multigenerational rescue in Cape May County Thursday evening.

Officials say the duo, a 79-year-old grandfather with his 7-year-old granddaughter, ran aground on a 12-foot personal watercraft in shallow water in Grassy Sound off North Wildwood.

A commercial salvage company attempted to rescues the two but were foiled by shallow water. That’s when the company radioed the Coast Guard.

Air Station Atlantic City launched a HH-65 Dolphin helicopter, which hoisted the pair and brought them back to base uninjured.

“It’s always a great feeling to help people in need,” said Lt. Spencer Grinnell, the pilot of the rescue helicopter. “This case was a great example of boaters being prepared and wearing their life jackets on the water, and it was also a great example of other boaters noticing people in distress and reporting it to the Coast Guard so we could assist.”