Man, 29, saved from sinking boat off Pasco County coast, Coast Guard says

NEW PORT RICHEY — A 29-year-old man was rescued from his sinking boat on Saturday, according to the Coast Guard.

Shawn Brown was the operator of a 23-foot boat that was seen sinking off the coast of Pasco County, the Coast Guard said.

Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg received a report about the sinking vessel and issued a marine bulletin. It also sent a 29-foot response boat to help from the Coast Guard Station Sand Key station in Clearwater Beach to go help.

A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Clearwater also responded and found the sinking boat near New Port Richey. The air crew helped direct a Pasco County Sheriff’s Office boat to the scene.

The sheriff’s boat found Brown and took him aboard. His boat completely sank, the Coast Guard said.

Coast Guard officials did not say what caused the boat to sink or if Brown was injured.

“We are very fortunate to work alongside local agencies like the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office here in the Tampa Bay area,” said a statement from Capt. Matthew Thompson, the commander of Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. “They played a key role in successfully performing the search and rescue operation.”