Grasped from the clutches of the icy North Atlantic by what people are calling nothing less than a miracle, seven fishermen returned home to hugs, smiles, cheers and tears Saturday afternoon after one of the most unlikely offshore rescues in years.
Dry land must have never felt so good as it did for the crew of the fishing vessel Elite Navigator after being lost at sea in a life raft for nearly 48 hours.
They had to abandon ship after fire broke out. Five men hurriedly got into their immersion suits while the other two jumped in the ocean without theirs on. They paddled away from the burning trawler.
Complicating matters, says New-Wes-Valley Mayor Mike Tiller, was the loss of communication from the boat as the fire damaged their devices.
The boys are home❤️
Posted by Ryan Hart on Saturday, July 20, 2024
He says the fire also damaged the casing on the life raft which affected the transmitter.
Their flares could not be seen by searchers because of heavy fog but the crew knew well enough to keep one for when visibility improved. And it did.
The crew arrived back in New-Wes-Valley aboard the Coast Guard ship Teleost and were ferried to the wharf via a fast rescue craft.
Contacted by VOCM News earlier Saturday, Tiller could barely contain his relief.
“This is by far, I believe, the happiest and most joyous day in the history of New-Wes-Valley,” he said. “The whole town is abuzz. It’s just like a huge, weighted blanket has been lifted off our region.
“There are smiles on everybody’s faces … it’s almost indescribable the amount of joy and happiness … and disbelief that it turned out as well as it did.”
(Photo courtesy April Howell and Keesha Sarah Howell)
The Coast Guard says the handheld red flare was spotted last night which led them to the life raft carrying the crew. They were then transferred to the vessel Teleost by fast rescue craft.
An escort of local boats speed to shore behind a fast rescue craft carrying the ‘Lucky 7’ crew of the Elite Navigator in New-Wes-Valley, Bonavista Bay this afternoon. (Courtesy Maritime NL)
A parade is also planned for tomorrow to celebrate the crew’s rescue, and also kick off the town’s annual crab festival, which had been postponed “in light of the tragic events” that had been unfolding at sea.
The 56-foot Elite Navigator, sailing out of New-Wes-Valley, was on her way to offload a catch of turbot in Valleyfield this week.
She was last heard from around 11 p.m. Wednesday night and officially reported overdue as of 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
That set in motion a widespread search and rescue effort involving Coast Guard vessels, SAR and military aircraft, as well as private fishing boats from communities in the area — yet all of it hampered by thick fog.
It wasn’t until early Friday morning that news of the overdue vessel first broke, with hope fading in the midst of silence from the ship and her crew, and no flares spotted or distress signals received.
Terry received this from a former shipmate that he sailed with, who was on the bridge when this amazing call came through last evening. An absolute miracle. There is power in prayer!!❤️
Posted by Judy Norris Stagg on Saturday, July 20, 2024
News of the rescue broke Friday night, with stunning confirmation of the rescue in a post on the NL Maritime marine blog, saying all hands were found safe in a liferaft, after apparently abandoned their vessel.
That post was followed by one from Premier Andrew Furey, stating: “Our entire province is so relieved to hear that the crew members of the Elite Navigator are safe,” and thanking all who helped find them.
