Coast Guard Responds to Ill Man on Charter Boat Off Shark River Inlet

The U.S. Coast Guard early Monday morning responded to an ill 47-year-old man aboard a charter boat roughly 20 miles off the Shark River Inlet, officials said. 

Ron Jackson, of unknown location, was transported to the Belmar marina after a crewmember of the 97-foot charter boat Golden Eagle contacted the Coast Guard at about 11 p.m. Sunday reporting Jackson was ill and needed medical care, according to a release from the Coast Guard. 

A 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew from Coast Guard Station Manasquan Inlet arrived on scene and transferred an emergency medical technician aboard the Golden Eagle, the release said.

The crew escorted the Golden Eagle and its crew to the Belmar Marina, the boat’s homeport, the release said.

Jackson’s care was transferred to awaiting emergency medical personnel, the release said.

“The Golden Eagle crew did a great job in responding to an at-sea emergency. The swift action of the crew made the situation run smoothly until the Coast Guard arrived,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Wishnoff, a crewmember from station Manasquan Inlet, in the release.

“We want to remind all mariners to not solely rely on a cell phone as a primary means of communication. Keeping a VHF-FM radio on board your boat is an essential tool for contacting the Coast Guard in an emergency,” Wishnoff said.