WELL FLOATS – Three people and a dog are safe after their ship capsized off Wellfleet. The call came around noon on Chequessett Bluff Road. Two people and the dog were pulled from the overturned boat by a Wellfleet Fire lifeboat. The third victim began swimming towards shore but was also quickly rescued by the fireboat. All three were assessed for possible hypothermia upon arrival at Wellfleet Harbor.
In a press release, Wellfleet Fire Chief Richard Pauley confirms to Cape Wide News that three local residents and a dog were rescued approximately two miles from Wellfleet Harbor on Sunday afternoon when their 19ft sailboat was capsized.
Chief Pauley says at around 12:01 a.m. Wellfleet Police and Fire Services were notified of a capsized vessel, seen off 45 Chequessett Bluff Road. The Wellfleet Harbor Master and US Coast Guard have also been notified and asked to respond. Wellfleet Fire personnel responded to the town jetty with Ambulance 97 and Marine Unit 92 arriving at 12:13 p.m. and made contact with Harbor Master Will Sullivan. The Harbor Master’s Office launched its boat with two firefighters on board.
The capsized vessel was located about 15 minutes later with two people and a dog on its hull. A third individual attempting to swim to shore for assistance was found shortly thereafter. Seas were reported to have been choppy with noticeable gusts of ocean wind. All occupants of the boat were referred to the harbor master’s office and assessed by rescue personnel for hypothermia and refused further treatment. All rescue units cleared the scene around 1:29 p.m. The occupants are believed to have been stranded for approximately 45 minutes before being rescued.
Chief Pauley and Harbor Master Sullivan noted that the outcome of this incident could have been very different given the factors of ocean water temperature and rough seas. Pauley and Sullivan would like to remind all boaters to be aware of weather conditions, especially at this time of year, and strongly recommend that boaters have the proper communications equipment (waterproof marine grade radio) for emergency situations.
