The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net FOUR missing Andros fishermen have been rescued and returned to their families after being adrift at sea for five days. The men - Prince Jolly, Allan Wright, Roger Miller and another man known as KK - were airlifted to Nassau by the US Coast Guard at about 5pm yesterday. They were then taken to the Princess Margaret Hospital for treatment. Lieutenant Commander Nedly Martinborough, of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, said the men were discovered around 1pm drifting in waters near Andros. He said: "They were found by US Coast Guard aircraft about 32 miles south of Andros. All four of them were in one boat. "Two of them are very sick and need medical attention. You have to understand these men have not eaten since Saturday. When they were first discovered, the Coast Guard gave them a radio and remained on the scene until the helicopter from Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) arrived to rescue them. "They all appeared to be in good health although they were obviously exhausted from the entire ordeal. They were dehydrated and therefore for health reasons they were flown to Nassau for medical attention. They do not appear to be injured and will be fine after a couple days of rest." A friend of the fishermen, said the entire Andros community is grateful to the Defence Force and the U S Coast Guard for their assistance. "The whole community," he said, "is elated and thankful and grateful. "The men seemed to be fine. They were dehydrated, but I was told they were given food and water. The families are thankful to the Bahamas for all the prayers and efforts. They feel relieved because these past few nights have been terrible for them. They can rest their heads now knowing their loved ones are safe." The fishermen, who all live in Mangrove Cay, Andros, were reported missing by relatives on Saturday at 11.20am. According to family members, the men were aboard the Tropic Explorer. The vessel was left near the Fish Cays when the four men boarded two dinghies - two in each dinghy - and headed in a west southwest direction. However, when they were discovered all four were in one dinghy. It is not certain what happened to them nor why they did not return to the Tropic Explorer.