Imagine being stuck in the sea and finally seeing a Coast Guard appear to save the day. You would breathe a sigh of relief at the hopeful situation. For a Louisiana boater, gratitude was a distant emotion as he pulled a pistol out to navigate the encounter. In this peculiar rescue mission, the helping hand gets burned by the stranded victim.
The Coast Guard responded to an emergency call regarding a sailboat located about 75 miles south of Southwest Pass, Louisiana, in the Gulf of Mexico.
When the rescue crew arrived in a rescue helicopter, they tried to lower a radio down to the boat after they noticed a person and two dogs aboard it. According to a statement, the victim directed a firearm at the helicopter and aircrew. The team heard objects striking the aircraft, and it was an immediate threat to their safety.
Due to safety concerns, the helicopter left the scene leaving the man to ride the waves. The aircrew is baffled by his violent behavior: Does this man want to be saved?
After returning to Air Station New Orleans, the crew observed impacts to the helicopter rotors consistent with projectiles from a firearm.
“Safety of life was our number one priority during this challenging incident,” Lt. Phillip VanderWeit, a spokesperson for the Eighth Coast Guard District said. “Through the professional and skillful work of our crews and interagency partners, we were able to bring this incident to a peaceful resolution.”
Coast Guard arrested the boater without incident when Coast Guard Investigative Service returned to the scene in an airplane and a response boat.
So, why did he shoot the ones trying to save his life? It remains unknown, as this man takes extreme measures to stay stuck in the middle of the sea.