Four rescued from capsized trawler off Nantucket

Four fishermen were rescued after their vessel capsized off Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts on Wednesday, June 17.

The crew of the trawler Rebecca Mary sent out a distress call saying that their vessel had begun taking on water approximately 64 kilometres south of Nantucket on the morning (local time) of Wednesday.

The US Coast Guard air station at Cape Cod then deployed an HH-60 helicopter, which promptly arrived at the scene after honing in on the location of the distressed vessel through its emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB). The coast guard said the trawler had already capsized and the four crew were adrift on a liferaft by the time the helicopter reached the area.

The fishermen were then safely airlifted to shore with no significant injuries.

Meanwhile, Rebecca Mary eventually sank and currently rests on the seabed 60 metres below the surface.

The coast guard has launched an investigation into the incident.