BUENA PARK : Coast Guard Rescues Would-Be Rescuers

For Ann and John Kinner, Sunday’s boating trip off Long Beach seemed destined to end uneventfully.

But when they prepared to return ashore, the Buena Park couple received a radio call from a nearby vessel that had lost power. They headed toward the scene.

But that is not the dramatic part. The Kinners never made it to the second boat. That’s because the would-be rescuers discovered that their own 42-foot vessel, the Hooligan, had taken on nearly three feet of water and needed help.

In the end, a Coast Guard rescue boat and helicopter arrived to the Kimmers’ aid, said Brandy Ian, chief public affairs officer. Coast Guard rescuers pumped the water out of the Hooligan and escorted it back to Los Angeles harbor, Ian added.

Just why the boat took on water was not clear. Ann Kinner said Monday that a clogged pump, a possible leak and a crack in the 20-year-old wooden vessel’s seam were likely to blame. A damage estimate was not available.

Because they are experienced boaters, Kinner said neither she nor her husband became overly excited about the situation. Yet “it was a real surprise,” she said.

Kinner also had praise for Coast Guard rescuers, whom she said arrived at their boat within two minutes. “They were great,” she added.

As for the second boat, another official said he doubted it required help from the Coast Guard.