[chris]

The Coast Guard and the good Samaritan motor vessel Frio Ionian rescued two boaters Monday, March 4, about 1,726 miles east of Bermuda.

Fifth Coast Guard District watchstanders received an EPIRB alert from the 19-foot sailing vessel Lhor One at about 6 p.m. Sunday. They alerted nearby mariners, queried AMVER vessels, and directed a Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City HC-130 Hercules crew to launch.

The aircrew arrived at 4:45 a.m. Monday and contacted the boaters, who reported they were taking on water after a lightning strike reportedly caused a hole in the vessel. The aircrew directed the 505-foot Frio Ionian, an AMVER participating ship, to the sailboat's position.

Frio Ionian arrived at 10 a.m. and safely transferred the two men, ages 20 and 24, from Lhor One with no reported injuries. Lhor One was sailing from Guadeloupe to France.

AMVER is the Coast Guard Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue program, which allows vessels to voluntarily provide position updates for search and rescue response around the world.