Cape Cod Fisherman Survives 2½ Hours in Atlantic After Falling Overboard

CAPE COD, MA — A commercial fisherman is lucky to be alive after surviving nearly two and a half hours in the Atlantic Ocean without a life jacket before being rescued by another fishing crew several miles off Cape Cod.

The dramatic rescue unfolded on Saturday, July 18, approximately eight miles off Truro, after a crew member aboard the commercial fishing vessel Western Edge fell overboard while the boat was at sea.

According to reports, the three-man crew of the Seel Jr. had just completed a nine-day fishing trip and was heading home when a distress call came over the marine radio shortly after noon.

“A distress call came over the radio… stating to the Coast Guard that they were missing a crew member,” crew member João DaSilva told CBS Boston.

Rather than continue toward port, the crew immediately changed course and headed toward the search area. After traveling for about an hour, they heard faint cries for help.

“As I’m going up the ladder, Phil said, ‘It’s either a seal or somebody’s head,'” DaSilva recalled. Moments later, they spotted a man wearing a bright lime-green shirt roughly 200 feet from the vessel, waving for help while struggling to stay afloat.

The crew quickly threw a life ring and additional flotation devices into the water while notifying the U.S. Coast Guard of the sighting. A Coast Guard rescue swimmer was lowered from a helicopter and safely brought the exhausted fisherman aboard.

Officials said the man had been treading water for approximately two and a half hours without wearing a life jacket. He was treated for hypothermia and is expected to recover.

The rescued fisherman has not been publicly identified.

For the crew of the Seel Jr., the rescue carried special meaning.

“It’s nice to pull somebody out of the water alive,” DaSilva told CBS Boston.

He noted that New England’s commercial fishing community has endured several devastating tragedies over the past year, including the loss of the Yankee Rose off Provincetown and other fatal commercial fishing accidents throughout the region.

“Saturday was just special,” DaSilva said. “We were there for a reason… and it wasn’t to catch fish on that last tow.”

The remarkable rescue has drawn widespread attention across the country, with many praising the quick thinking of the Seel Jr. crew and the coordinated response between commercial fishermen and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The incident also serves as another reminder of the dangers commercial fishermen face every day on the water. Even experienced mariners can find themselves in life-threatening situations within seconds, particularly in the cold waters off New England.

Authorities continue to encourage everyone working or recreating on the water to wear properly fitted life jackets, maintain communication equipment and immediately report anyone who falls overboard.