Three rescued by Coast Guard on south end of Lake Tahoe

LAKE TAHOE - Three people were rescued after a distress call led the Coast Guard to the 25-foot vessel, JUST ENOUGH, as it was taking on water near the California/Nevada border of the South Shore of Lake Tahoe Tuesday afternoon.

The initial call came in at 3:00 p.m. and crews from Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County Sheriffs Department responded to the scene.

When the vessel's operator secured the engine, the vessel stopped taking on water. Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe got the three adults off the boat and a Good Samaritan, SUNDANCE, helped tow the disabled JUST ENOUGH to the Tahoe Key Marina at 4:45 p.m.

There were no reported injuries.

This rescue illustrates the vital importance of safety equipment for all seasoned and recreational boaters. The Coast Guard recommends the use of a registered EPIRB, PPIRB, fully functioning marine band radio and proper use of life jackets.

“We highly advise all boaters to wear life jackets and always have an effective way to communicate with response agencies,” said Chief Petty Officer Dan Polhemus, officer in charge of Station Lake Tahoe. “While boaters rely on cell phones for emergency communications on the water, VHF-FM radios are the most reliable form of communication.”