BOSTON — The Coast Guard rescued one hunter after a skiff overturned with three people aboard near Westport, Mass.,Tuesday.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England received a report at approximately 9 a.m., Tuesday, from the Westport Harbormaster of the overturned skiff near Westport River.
A Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter rescue crew and a Coast Guard Station Menemsha, Mass., 47-foot Motor Life Boat rescue crew immediately launched to search. The helicopter rescue crew located the overturned skiff in the Westport River.
The helicopter crew located two hunters in the water about one half-mile from the overturned skiff at approximately 10:30 a.m.The Harbormaster recovered and transported them to EMS who pronounced them deceased.
The helicopter crew located the third hunter at 11:05 a.m. They safely hoisted him into the helicopter. He was then transported to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, R.I. with symptoms of hypothermia. His condition is unknown.
Responding were crews from:
* Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod
* Coast Guard Station Menemsha
* Westport Harbormaster
* Westport Fire Department
* Massachusetts Marine Environmental Patrol
"It's tragic that this case resulted in two lives lost, and it is nothing short of miraculous that one hunter was saved,“ said Lt. Bryan Swintek, the Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England public affairs officer. “It took teamwork between the Coast Guard rescue crews and our interagency partners to get him to safety.”
At the time of the rescue, the air temperature was eight degrees, water temperature 35 degrees with 30-knot winds. The visibility was 10 miles.
