Authorities say they raced to help after a boat burst into flames off the Mississippi Gulf Coast this weekend.
"The Coast Guard rescued seven boaters and a dog from a vessel fire near Gulfport, Mississippi, Saturday," according to a news release. "Coast Guard... watchstanders received a mayday call over marine radio at 9:26 a.m. of a 45-foot Hatteras on fire with seven people and a dog aboard."
Officials say the Coast Guard an aircrew diverted to the call and arrived on scene to deploy a rescue life raft.
"Watchstanders coordinated the launch of a Coast Guard Station Gulfport 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boatcrew to rescue the boaters.... The boatcrew then transferred the seven boaters and dog back to Station Gulfport to awaiting emergency medical services personnel."
It came as the Coast Guard and other agencies launched an annual campaign to urge boating safety.
"Today officially kicks off National Safe Boating Week. The prudent actions of those aboard the Hatteras – hailing mayday to the Coast Guard and all personnel wearing life jackets, coupled with the quick actions of the aircrew deploying the life raft, ultimately allowed the Coast Guard to bring all seven back to shore safely." said Lt. Cmdr. Kathleen Sullivan, a Sector Mobile search and rescue mission coordinator. "This case was a seamless example of teamwork and coordination between multiple different Coast Guard and local assets."
All seven people were last reported in stable condition.
