Two brothers and a small dog were dragged out of the frigid Essex River on Friday night after their 30-foot sailboat, the Jenny Lee, ran aground and started taking on water. The men, ages 28 and 30, slogged through chest-deep, near-freezing water before first responders reached them. Both were taken to local hospitals for hypothermia and were reported to be in stable condition. The dog, found floating nearby inside a plastic tote, was also safely rescued.
According to CBS Boston, the U.S. Coast Guard alerted the North Shore Regional 911 Center at about 8:12 p.m. after an emergency beacon on the Jenny Lee went off. Crews then located the sailboat listing badly off Coffins Beach at the mouth of the river. First responders launched a 14-foot flat-bottom rescue skiff and deployed a police drone to search the area before bringing the two men and the dog back to shore.
How The Late-Night Rescue Played Out
Essex Police Chief and Harbormaster Thomas Shamshak Jr. took command of the operation while Deputy Fire Chief David Pereen and Officer Joseph Fedullo launched the skiff, WCVB reported. A police drone helped spot the brothers, who were wading in chest-deep, dark, cold water. One man was able to walk out under his own power, but the other could not and was carried roughly 250 yards through sand dunes to 2 Penny Lane in Gloucester. Gloucester Fire ambulances transported both to nearby hospitals for treatment of hypothermia, while officials confirmed that the dog was unharmed.
Officials Credit Training And Teamwork
"Tonight's rescue underscores the importance of proper training and effective communication for maritime hazards in communities like ours," Essex Police Chief Thomas Shamshak said, the Boston Globe reported. Officials publicly thanked mutual-aid partners from Gloucester, Essex and the Coast Guard for the rapid, coordinated response that brought everyone to safety.
Cold Water, Big Trouble: Safety Reminders
State officials caution that early-spring air can feel mild while water temperatures remain dangerously cold, and warn that sudden immersion can trigger a rapid gasp reflex and loss of motor control, Mass.gov says. Boating safety resources from the U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety site urge boaters to wear a properly fitted personal flotation device, file a float plan and carry signaling gear so rescuers can find them quickly if a vessel starts to sink.
