MIAMI — The Coast Guard rescued four Bahamian fishermen Wednesday approximately 50 miles south of Andros Island, Bahamas.
The fishermen were stranded at sea for five days without food or water after their fishing boats became disabled.
The Coast Guard received a report through the Royal Bahamiam Defence Force (RBDF) that two small fishing boats, which had launched from a larger fishing vessel, Tropic Explorer, did not return as scheduled Saturday.
A Cessna aircraft crew in the area spotted the stranded fishermen and reported their location to the Coast Guard.
A Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew located the fishermen and dropped a communications radio along with food.
The Coast Guard then launched an Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew deployed to Andros Island in support of Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT). Once on scene, the Jayhawk crew safely hoisted the four fishermen and transferred them to RBDF personnel in Nassau, Bahamas.
“This was a great case with a great outcome,” said Cmdr. Louie Parks, OPBAT director. “It demonstrated the outstanding training, capability and response effort of the men and women who staff the OPBAT program. But just as important, it underscores the highly effective partnership and cooperation that Air Station Clearwater, the 7th District and the U.S. Coast Guard have built through years of embedded service and daily interaction with RBDF.”
