Woods Hole, Massachusetts — WOODS HOLE, Mass. (AP) — The Coast Guard rescued a family Wednesday off Cape Cod after their 30-foot recreational boat caught fire and they had to swim to a small island where they took shelter in a barn for nearly two days.
When the mother, father and son did not return as expected Tuesday night, a relative called authorities. The Coast Guard, along with Falmouth Police and the Falmouth Harbormaster, began an overnight search. Calls to the family went to voicemail.
On Wednesday, the son was able to use the marine radio of the boat, which had washed up on the island, to make a distress call to the Coast Guard. Shortly after, the family was rescued from Noushon Island by a Coast Guard helicopter and airlifted to an area hospital.
“Thinking quickly and obtaining high-quality equipment allowed the family to survive and seek help,” Scott Buckholm, search and rescue mission coordinator from Coast Guard Sector Southeast New England, said in a statement.
The Coast Guard said the family planned to remain anchored between Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard throughout the weekend before returning Tuesday afternoon. The Coast Guard said the fire woke them up, but did not say how far they had to swim to the island or the nature of their injuries.
Knowshon Island is the largest of the Elizabeth Islands, a chain of islands located between southeastern Massachusetts and Martha’s Vineyard
Hyannis Fire Department Deputy Chief Jeff Lamothe told Boston 25 News that his crew transported the family to Cape Cod Hospital. He added that one of the family members is in critical condition and two are in stable condition. No one answered the phone at the Hyannis Fire Department Wednesday night to find out more information.