Rescue at sea
The Coast Guard and Towboat U.S., a commercial salvage company, worked together to save a fisherman’s life about 16 miles south of Atlantic City, today. Rescued was Robert Cooper, 45, of New Bedford, Mass. A scallop boat captain is safe and on shore, thanks to an early morning ocean rescue 16 miles off Atlantic City by the U.S. Coast Guard and Towboat US. Robert Cooper, 45, of New Bedford, Mass., was traveling on the Linda Sea from Cape May to Point Pleasant Monday night when the boat started taking on water. The first emergency call came in at about 8:28 p.m., and the vessel wasn’t in immediate danger at the time, U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer Nyx Cangemi said. As the night progressed, weather conditions worsened, with 20- to 25-knot winds and 8- to 10-foot waves, Cangemi said. The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Finback, an Atlantic City rescue boat crew and helicopter, and three vessels from Towboat US, a private hauling company, were dispatched to help the ship. Rescue workers and the salvage crew initially could not find the captain when they arrived on the scene between 3:35 and 4 a.m. Tuesday, Cangemi said. Coast Guard Petty Officer Chris Razoyk, the rescue swimmer, was dropped from the helicopter and used a crash axe to break into the pilot house. Helicopter pilot Lt. John K. Howard spotted Cooper floating in the water several feet away, and Razoyk pulled the captain to safety. “When I got to him, his face - I will never forget it - was in awe,” Razoyk said. “He was extremely cold and he had a life jacket, T-shirt and shorts on. … When we got to the helicopter, my hands were numb. I can’t imagine what his body felt like.” Cooper was treated for hypothermia and transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus, in Atlantic City.