U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Ventura pilot and crew hailed as heroes following water rescues

VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) Members of Coast Guard Air Station Ventura are being hailed heroes.

Pilot Lt. Miyako Miller got the Mayday distress call and took off with her crew from the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Ventura at Pt. Mugu to rescue people off the coast of Ensenada, Mexico late last week.

Coast Guard rescue swimmer Josh Law helped rescue 16 people from a capsized boat in the dark early Friday morning.

Law used a buddy tow rescue method to bring the survivors to a rescue basket that lifted them to the helicopter.

Multiple reports said some had injuries consistent with shark bites.

Law, 24, told the Associated Press it was "by far the longest rescue operation" he had ever done.

At least 11 people were not found.

And only pieces of the boat were found.

Some individuals rescued were confirmed to be Mexican Nationals. 

Investigators are looking into whether those rescued were passengers or part of an offshore smuggling operation.