The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT - After almost 48 hours adrift with no food or water, nine persons, including three children, were rescued by the US Coast Guard off West Palm Beach on Monday.

A 26-ft centre console vessel with six adults and children ages, 3, 10, and 12, were spotted sometime after 6am by a USCG rescue helicopter.

The nationality of the boaters, who were brought to Freeport, were not known up to presstime.

According to reports, BASRA officials in Grand Bahama were contacted around 5.18am by a concerned resident in Nassau who reported that six persons were stranded off West End.

The caller said that the cell phone onboard the boat had gone dead.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force, OPBAT and USCG were also notified.

Two Coast Guard vessels and a Hilo were dispatched to search waters in the West Palm Beach to West End areas.

d'Von Archer, BASRA public relations officer, said the Hilo located the vessel at coordinates N26.33.2 - W079.09.56.

"The Hilo dropped a VHF radio down to the vessel and found that all persons onboard were in good health, but had had no food or water for almost two days," he said.

Archer said a rescue plan was coordinated by the RBPF Marine Division and The Royal Bahamas Defence Force, and a rescue vessel was dispatched from West End. He said a Defence Force vessel was also dispatched from Freeport.

Rescue vessels were on the scene at 2pm on Monday. The boaters were brought to Freeport on board a USCG cutter at 7pm and turned over to the proper authorities.