Coast Guard rescues family stranded on island after boat catches fire off Cape Cod; one in ‘severe’ condition
A family of three was hospitalized on Wednesday, one with serious injuries, after being stranded on Naushon Island off Cape Cod for more than 30 hours after their boat caught fire and they were forced to swim to shore, officials said.
Searchers received a mayday call from the family over marine radio at 7:09 a.m. Wednesday , according to a Coast Guard spokesperson. Volunteers from the Naushon Trust, which owns the island located , found the family and administered first aid.
The family was airlifted by a Coast Guard helicopter to Cape Cod Gateway Airport in Barnstable, landing at 9:13 a.m., and were taken to Cape Cod Hospital, Hyannis Fire Captain Ryan Clough confirmed to the Globe.
Two of the family members suffered minor injuries, but one of them was in severe condition, according to Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Rajesh Harrilal. They had suffered from smoke inhalation, burns, and exposure, Hyannis Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Lamothe told the Cape Cod Times.
The family set out in their boat, Third Wave, from Eel Pond in Falmouth on Friday, and were due to return Tuesday afternoon, Harrilal said. But their boat caught fire Monday night and they were forced to swim to shore.
The Coast Guard began searching for the boat after a relative reported it was overdue, Harrilal said. Police in Falmouth assisted in the search.
Falmouth’s harbormaster, Gregg Fraser, said his office was alerted that the vessel was missing late Tuesday night.
“Our office did assist with the ownership identification and suggested possible search locations,” Fraser said by email.
The stranded family eventually managed to contact the Coast Guard after their son found their vessel’s marine radio washed ashore on the beach.
A Coast Guard helicopter landed on the island at around 8:30 a.m., Harrilal said. Photos provided by the Coast Guard appear to show the helicopter over a pair of cottages near Tarpaulin Cove.
Naushon Island is the largest of the Elizabeth Islands chain, which sits between Buzzards Bay and Martha’s Vineyard. Though nominally part of the town of Gosnold — itself the least populous town in Massachusetts — the island is privately owned and operated, with only certain areas open to the public.[cq]
Camilo Fonseca can be reached at camilo.fonseca@globe.com. Follow him on X @fonseca_esq and on Instagram @camilo_fonseca.reports.
