The Coast Guard Cutter Paul Clark successfully rescued a 64-year-old man who had been stranded on an uninhabited island in the Bahamas for three days.
The mariner’s ordeal began when his sailboat broke down in the waters near Cay Sal, a remote 2,000 square-mile landmass nestled between the Bahamas, Cuba, and Florida. This island temporarily became the mariner’s refuge, leaving him isolated and uncertain of his future.
On Friday, August 18, Coast Guard Air Station Miami Auxiliary aircrew spotted distress flares from the disabled vessel.
To assist the mariner, a Bahamas national, the Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew executed a supply drop, delivering essential items such as food, water, and a vital radio for communication. This lifeline ensured the mariner’s plight was communicated to the outside world.
Having reestablished communication, the mariner informed the Coast Guard of his situation. The Coast Guard Cutter Paul Clark then retrieved him from the island.
After the rescue, he was transported to the Royal Bahamas Defense Force, where his safety and well-being were ensured. Petty Officer 3rd Class Dev Craig, a Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstander, expressed pride in the mission’s success. He emphasized the agency’s achievement in saving a life and underscored the importance of possessing proper safety equipment, such as the flares, which were instrumental in the rescue.
