Family rescued after being stranded on small island off Cape Cod

WOODS HOLE, Mass. (AP) — A harrowing rescue mission unfolded off the coast of Cape Cod when a family found themselves stranded on a small island after their 30-foot pleasure boat caught fire. The mother, father, and their son were forced to swim to safety, where they sought shelter in a barn for nearly two days before being rescued by the Coast Guard.

The ordeal began when the family failed to return home as expected on Tuesday night, prompting a concerned relative to contact authorities. A search operation was launched by the Coast Guard, Falmouth police, and Falmouth Harbormaster, but the family remained out of reach. It wasn’t until Wednesday that the son managed to use the boat’s marine radio, which had washed up on the island, to send a distress call to the Coast Guard.

Thanks to the quick thinking of the family and the quality equipment onboard, they were able to alert authorities and were swiftly rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter from Naushon Island. The family was then airlifted to a nearby hospital for medical attention. Scott Backholm, a search and rescue mission coordinator from Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England, commended the family’s resourcefulness in a statement following the rescue.

According to the Coast Guard, the family had initially planned to spend the weekend anchored between Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard before their boat caught fire. The exact distance the family had to swim to reach the island and the extent of their injuries were not disclosed.

Naushon Island, where the family sought refuge, is the largest of the Elizabeth Islands, situated between southeastern Massachusetts and Martha’s Vineyard. Hyannis Fire Deputy Chief Jeff Lamothe reported that the family members were rushed to Cape Cod Hospital, with one in critical condition and two in stable condition.

The details of the family’s ordeal serve as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the sea and the importance of being prepared for emergencies while out on the water. The successful rescue operation highlights the crucial role of the Coast Guard in ensuring the safety of mariners in distress.