Seven missing Canadian fishermen have been rescued after their fishing vessel, the F/V Elite Navigator, caught fire and sank.
Elite Navigator Captain Eugene Carter, as well as crewmen Jordan King, Toby Peddle, David Tiller, Andy Hunt, Robbie Firmage, and Harold Howell, abandoned ship on the evening of Wednesday, 17 July, after a fire began and quickly burnt out of control onboard the vessel.
The Canadian Coast Guard initiated a search for the crew after the 15-meter vessel, which was fishing for turbot, ceased transmitting a signal at 8:30 p.m. on 17 July. But, thick fog impeded its effort, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
The crew – including two who can’t swim – were able to board a life raft and were ultimately found by a search helicopter on the night of Friday, 19 July, after the crew fired off its final remaining flare.
“It’s just frustrating that the fog and the weather was preventing us from being found earlier,” King told CBC News.
Carter kept the crew’s spirits high during their time in the life raft, according to Peddle.
“He kept everyone calm in the life raft for over 48 hours. He’s a hero,” Peddle said.
Carter said he tried to keep his crew optimistic through the ordeal.
“We just kept ourselves believing that within a few hours, the chopper was going to be here,” Carter said.
Five of the crew are from New-Wes-Valley, Newfoundland, the Elite Navigator’s home port.
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey referred to the rescued crew as “the lucky seven.”
“Too often in Newfoundland and Labrador, we don’t get this outcome, and these guys are real, real heroes,” he said
Retired Canadian Coast Guard employee Frank Granter said the rescue was a miracle.
“It’s once in a lifetime you’ll see something like this when all the people survive,” he told the National Post. “But, in October or November, it would have been a different story.”
Carter said he will return to fishing as soon as possible.
“I don’t want the fish to get away, right?” Carter said.