A woman working from home saw a boat overturn in water off the coast of Massachusetts and quickly called 911, saving the lives of three fishermen.
While waiting for help, the men survived Tuesday’s incident by clinging to fishing gear tied around a diesel fuel tank. They had no life jackets, according to the Scituate Police Department (Massachusetts). They waited nearly an hour in freezing water before police and firefighters arrived.
In one video posted by the police department, the rescue team used an aerial drone to locate the men and made several attempts to lure them out using “rescue rings”. However, the sea waves and the circle of diesel fuel surrounding the men made rescue difficult. Eventually, the fishermen were pulled out and taken to a nearby hospital where they were treated for severe hypothermia, police said.
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The rescue took place thanks to a 911 call from Pam Harght. Harght said she was on a business visit at her home in Marshfield, Mass., a town about 30 miles south of Boston, when she saw the boat capsize.
“It looked like the boat was taking on water, which I guess at the time had actually rolled, then I saw a cloud of dark smoke, then the boat disappeared,” Harght said. . CNN. “It was probably around 60 or 90 seconds.”
Scituate Police said Harght was the only one to call about the boating incident. Joe Roderick, one of the crew, told ABC television in Boston WCVB that the 55-foot boat sank too quickly for the crew to call for help.
“Normally boats lean to one side when you come up, and this boat just keeps leaning,” Roderick told WCVB. “Next thing I know the rail – which is about 5 or 6 feet from the water – was touching the water.”
Harght said she was grateful luck was with her and the men that day.
“It was all pure luck and nothing worked in their favor except me looking out the window,” Harght told CNN.
Follow Gabriela Miranda on Twitter: @itsgabbymiranda
