New England Coast Guard Officials Save 4 From Maine Waters

Coast Guard officials from Sector Northern New England saved four fisherman nearly 40 miles south from Southwest Harbor, Maine.

According to Coast Guard Sector Northern New England watchstanders, they received a broken transmission from one of the crew members aboard a 71-foot vessel named Lydia & Maya, which mentioned they were "taking on water."

Watchstanders were soon notfied that the fishermen crew was in the water after hearing an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) alert.

A 47-foot boat crew from Coast Guard Station Southwest Harbor and MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from the Air Station Cape Cod launched to search for the overboard crew.

By using the EPIRB distress signal, the helicopter crew were able to locate the four crew members around 2 a.m. They found the crew members on a life raft utilizing flares and a signal light. A rescue swimmer was able to assist in airlifting the four fishermen.

Enduring mild hypothermic conditions, the fishermen crew was taken to the Bar Harbor airport to await paramedics.

"The weather conditions were not ideal for searching," said Chief Petty Officer Aaron Clendaniel. Clendaniel is the command duty officer of Sector Northern New England's command center.

"The Lydia & Maya crew did a great job making sure their safety supplies were in good working condition, and that is what allowed us to find them so quickly," added Clendaniel.

Officials are currently investigating the condition of the vessel.

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