Five people are lucky to be alive after a harrowing incident at sea a few nights ago. They are all safe in Hickman’s Harbour.
The 40-ft fishing vessel Exploits Navigator ran aground in Gooseberry Cove, Trinity Bay in the dark and foggy hours of Thursday morning.
They took to the life raft after their distress call was received by the marine centre in Port aux Basques. Their vessel was not outfitted with an Emergency Radio beacon, but one of the crew members brought one onboard and activated it. They used flares to notify authorities of their position as they had drifted. The Coast Guard used a small dingy to go ashore and rescue the five people while a cormorant helicopter stood by in case needed.
The vessel had about 700 litres of fuel onboard when it sank. The Coast Guard’s Environmental Response crew deployed and recovered absorbent material at the wreck site.