The Coast Guard rescued a family lost in the Pacific after a boat failure set them adrift
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A family of three was found after being stranded in the sea for about a week.
The group was found Monday by the U.S. Coast Guard in the Pacific Ocean after their trip was reported overdue, a Coast Guard news release said.
The family, two men and one woman, left Fananu Island – in the province of Chuuk and part of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) in the western Pacific Ocean – on March 30 to the nearby island of Murillo. But they never made it after one of their engines stopped working, according to officials.
CRUISE SHIP BOUND AROUND THE SEA IS RESCUED BY A US COAST GUARD VESSEL
FSM authorities and the US Embassy reported the vessel missing on April 5, prompting a search effort.
Later that night, the crew of the US Coast Guard cutter Midgett spotted the family’s 23-foot student in waters off Chuuk Province.
A family of three was rescued after a week of being stranded at sea when US Coast Guard personnel spotted their disabled boat in the Pacific, pictured above, from behind. (Seaman Lauren Taber/ US Coast Guard)
The rescue team faced difficult conditions during the mission.
Waves reached 10 feet and the search area is more than 14,000 square miles, the Coast Guard noted.
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In the end, all three people were rescued and unharmed. The family was then relocated to Chuuk Province.
Officials praised the crew’s response, noting that search and rescue operations of this scale are not the norm.
The family members – the two pictured above – were safely rescued by the coast guard without injury and taken to Chuuk State. (US Coast Guard/Petty Officer 3rd Class Jennifer Nilson)
“The watchmen on the bridge saw a small boat in rough seas just after midnight, and this type of situational awareness doesn’t happen by accident,” said Capt. Brian Whisler, the Midgett’s commanding officer, according to the release.
“This is what the team trains for, and I couldn’t be prouder of the way he worked.”
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Jennifer L. Johnson, the US ambassador to the FSM, also praised this performance, calling it an indication of strong cooperation between the two nations.
“The swift and courageous actions of our US Coast Guard partners in this successful search and rescue operation not only demonstrate the highest standards of professionalism and humanity, but also strengthen the deep and enduring relationship between the United States and the Federated States of Micronesia,” Johnson said.
Officials praised the rescue, saying it showed quick action, intelligence and strong cooperation. On the right, an emotional hug. (US Coast Guard/Petty Officer 3rd Class Jennifer Nilson and James Warguez)
The search involved coordination between multiple Coast Guard units, including teams in Guam and Hawaii, as well as support from regional partners, the department said.
Fox News Digital reported on another recent incident involving an American tourist in the Bahamas.
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An American woman has been reported missing after she fell overboard while on a boat trip near Hope Town and was swept away by strong winds, according to local police. Authorities say the woman disappeared while having fun with her husband, who paddled to the shore and reported it to the authorities.
A multi-agency search effort was launched as officials warned that boating conditions in the Bahamas could be dangerous, and the US State Department urged travelers to be cautious.
Adam Sabes of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.
