A man was rescued by the Coast Guard after he says he spent three days marooned on an uninhabited island after his sailboat broke down in the Bahamas.
The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Paul Clark spotted the unlucky seafarer firing flares from his disabled vessel on Friday near Cay Sal — a 2,000 square-mile spittle of land nestled between Florida, Cuba and the Bahamas, the maritime agency said in a statement.
After locating the marooned mariner, a Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew dropped supplies, including food, water, and a radio to establish communication.
“The man notified the crew he’d been stranded for three days after his vessel became disabled during his voyage,” the agency reported.
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He was later picked up by the Coast Guard cutter and taken to Royal Bahamas Defense Force in “good health.”
The rescued man has not been identified but was described as a 64-year-old Bahamian national.
“We’re proud to have saved this man’s life,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Dev Craig, a Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstander.
“This case serves as a perfect example of why you must have the proper safety equipment on your vessel. Without seeing the flare, the case may not have had a successful outcome,” he added.
