09 August 2023 , 18:55
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In a harrowing rescue operation, the United States Coast Guard successfully saved the lives of three fishermen who found themselves in perilous waters clinging to a buoy.
At approximately 12.48pm, the First Coast Guard District command center received an urgent distress signal coming from an emergency radio beacon registered to the Miss Kara, a 55-foot commercial fishing vessel, off the Cape Cod coast..
A Jayhawk helicopter crew from the Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod rushed to the scene, where they eventually spotted the three fishermen desperately clinging to a buoy amidst the tumultuous waters five miles east of Nantucket. The men, who were not wearing life jackets, were battling the elements and clinging to hope.
A 47-foot lifeboat crew from Coast Guard Station Brant Point in Nantucket, sprang into action.
The three were safely hoisted aboard the helicopter and flown to Hyannis Airport (U.S. Coast Guard)The Coast Guard crew executed a daring rescue operation. The Jayhawk helicopter hovered over the water as crew members pulled each fisherman aboard, one by one, before whisking them away to safety.
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Camera footage captured the intense efforts of the Coast Guard staff as they brought the fishermen to the hovering aircraft.
The fisherman were rushed to Hyannis Airport, where they were met by awaiting emergency staff. Despite the ordeal, they were reported to be in stable condition.
The emergency beacon was crucial to the rescue, according to Lt. Cmdr. Kristi Butler, search and rescue coordinator for the First Coast Guard District. He said: “This positive outcome demonstrates the importance of maintaining vital lifesaving equipment onboard your vessel."
Reacting to the rescue footage, someone wrote on Twitter: "What theme park has this ride? I'd be IN! Sorry they lost their boat, but, holy moly, the luck they had. The epirb worked. They were close to land, Nantucket. They did everything correctly. No injuries. Importantly, this happened in August, not January. And AirSTA Cape Cod!"
It comes as, elsewhere, a routine fishing trip turned into a near-fatal encounter for a fisherman after he was stalked by sharks for two days and forced to tread water for two days
Charles Gregory, 25, found himself stalked by sharks off the Florida coast for 38 grueling hours. The young fisherman left on Friday morning, when his 12-foot boat was hit by a powerful wave near St. Augustine, approximately 40 miles south of Jacksonville.
As the wave capsized his boat, Charles clung to the vessel to avoid being swept away by the strong currents. Despite his efforts, the boat remained partially afloat, forcing him to tread water for hours on end to prevent it from sinking completely.
During his hours in the water, Charles was stung repeatedly by jellyfish and encountered several sharks circling him. The scorching Florida sun also led to severe sunburn and dehydration. His absence prompted his family to report him missing, leading to a US Coast Guard search operation. After enduring the scorching days and chilly nights, he was finally spotted by a Coast Guard plane on Saturday.