HARPSWELL — Two lobstermen were rescued from the water at least a mile off Bailey Island Saturday afternoon after their boat capsized.
According to Maine Marine Patrol, a man and his 15-year-old nephew were in a 24-foot skiff hauling a trap that apparently became snagged up below the surface. This caused the boat to tip to its starboard side and take on water, eventually rolling over, said Jeff Nichols, spokesman for the Maine Department of Marine Resources.
“The young man was able to climb around and ultimately get on top of the capsized boat and he never got completely wet,” Howe said.
The man, who Howe said is in his 60s, fell in the water but was able to climb up on the boat after it capsized.
“They were both wearing life preservers, which was really good,” Howe said
The water was about 50 degrees, cold enough so that the victims could have suffered hypothermia had they not been able to climb onto the hull.
Someone spotted the two people in distress atop the boat at about 1 p.m. and called for help. Harpswell Fire Administrator Arthur Howe estimates the capsized boat was 1-2 1/2 miles from shore.
The two were brought aboard another lobster boat that responded after receiving an emergency broadcast from the U.S. Coast Guard.
Howe said as he responded to the end of Bailey Island, he stopped at the nearby Cook’s Lobster wharf where a lobster boat was loading up. The captain of the boat agreed to take him to the capsized boat.
Howe said he was able to intercept the lobster boat that rescued the two stranded lobstermen to check them out medically.
“They were OK and basically refused treatment,” Howe said. “There were several stars aligned in their favor for sure.”
The overturned skiff was towed to Mackeral Cove while still upside down and partially submerged.
Nichols declined to release the names of the two people rescued because they requested to remain anonymous.
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