BOSTON – Two Coast Guardsmen suffered injuries while assisting a New Bedford, Mass., based fishing vessel with three crew aboard, disabled, in rough weather and in danger of sinking approximately 45 nautical miles southeast of Nantucket, Mass., this evening.
The two crewmembers aboard the Kittery, Maine-based Coast Guard Cutter Campbell, which arrived on scene about 4 p.m. today, were attempting to pass a towline to the 74-foot Creole Belle when they sustained non life-threatening trauma.
An HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Cape Cod hoisted the three crewmen from the Creole Belle and the two injured Coast Guardsmen from the Campbell. The helicopter was scheduled to land at Cape Cod Hospital where the injured will be treated.
Due to gale force winds and sea conditions, the Creole Belle has become less stable and is taking on water over the sides. Creole Belle crewmen expressed concerns that the onboard pumps would not be able to keep up with the flooding.
Current weather conditions are reported be 22-degree air temperature, 30-40 knot winds and 8 to 12-foot seas.
