By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
Tribune Staff Reporter
lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
AMERICANS who declined to rescue a Bahamian fisherman they found stranded at sea have received threats from angry residents.
A viral video showed a purported Bahamian fisherman standing on his overturned vessel after men in another boat approached. The man said he was on a fishing trip when water entered his vessel. He said he had been stuck for a day and that other boaters passed him and did not offer help.
In the video, he asked the Americans to be taken to Bimini. However, they declined and assured him officials from the US Coast Guard were on the way.
The Americans offered the man water, which he declined. One of them noted Bimini was 100 miles away.
After people questioned why the fishermen failed to offer more help, a Gulf Stream Custom Rods Company representative told The Tribune yesterday: “All you need to know is without our help this man would have been lost.”
“We got him the help he needed while listening to Coast Guard instructions over the radio. I’m amazed at the false narrative that’s been spread about this event.”
“Desperate people in desperate situations have been known to do desperate things.”
“I was just keeping my crew safe. This man was in another country and not in The Bahamas so I didn’t want to complicate things further because he would have only gotten on our boat if I said I would take him to Bimini. That would have been illegal and we didn’t even have the fuel or time available to do that if it was legal to do.”
The representative said the company had received “hundreds of messages of threats” since posting its video. He said his group did not leave the Bahamian man alone, but waited “another 15 minutes” until the US Coast Guard arrived.
The Tribune understands the Bahamian fisherman is a West End, Grand Bahama, resident and is currently detained in the United States.
Comments
bahamianson 5 months, 1 week ago
They did nothing wrong. They were there until the coast guard came, so this is a non issue.
Dawes 5 months, 1 week ago
People only saw the small part of the video where they were laughing. THey should make sure the whole video is up with the coast guard.
BMW 5 months, 1 week ago
A west End resident now being detained in the USA, you dont say?? What a long range fishing trip that was.
birdiestrachan 5 months, 1 week ago
They never left him . And they knew the coast guard was on its way I am happy he is all right.
DiverBelow 5 months ago
Let's hear the fishermans side of the story, before quick bad-mouthing. Piracy is a real threat for cruising yachtsmen & they must be cautious. A stranded boater requires human compation & caution as potential Bait for Piracy.
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