MIAMI — The Coast Guard rescued two men Wednesday off Andros Island, Bahamas, from a fishing vessel that had been disabled and drifting since Saturday.
The fishing vessel was a 16-foot skiff, which was one of six skiffs fishing with a larger vessel, the 81-foot Lady Natascha.
Lady Natascha crewmembers searched for the skiff over the weekend and reported it missing Monday.
The two men aboard the skiff had lifejackets, flares, food and water onboard.
Coast Guard aircrews from Air Station Miami, Air Station Clearwater, Fla., and the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) on Andros Island were launched to search for the disabled skiff.
An Air Station Clearwater HC-130 Hercules fixed-wing aircrew located the men on the skiff about 42 miles southwest of Andros Island around 11 a.m. Wednesday. The aircrew dropped food, water and a radio for communications to the men.
An AUTEC MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew was launched to hoist the men. The Jayhawk crew arrived on scene and safely transferred the men to Clarence A. Bain Airport, Mangrove Cay, Andros Island.
