SAN DIEGO — Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Paul Gould took an extended deep breath and a long pause before calling for help from the Coast Guard after his vessel started taking on water outside Coronado, a U.S. Coast Guard San Diego official told reporters.

The Coast Guard received the reluctant distress call around 4 p.m. when Gould swallowed his pride and reported his 20-foot pleasure craft was leaking water after he struck an unknown object.

The audio from the initial call to the Coast Guard Command Center went as follows: “Look…I know! Okay! I know, but I’m taking on water 3 miles West of Coronado with 1 person on board, my vessel is blue with white trim, and yes, (sigh) I have my life jacket on.”