Coast Guard helicopters, Boston Fire, Massport, and a commerical towboat searched for other people in the water but did not find anyone, Stone said.
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Earlier in the day, 26 people were rescued in Mexican waters near the Coronado Islands southwest of San Diego after the fishing boat they were on hit a rock.
A Coast Guard crew launched from Station Chincoteague at 4:47 a.m. and headed toward the scene in 12-15 foot seas, arriving at 8:18 a.m. Five crew members and 21 passengers were on board.
Crews were called to the area around 2:45 a.m. on a report that a 60-foot commercial fishing vessel named Storm was soft aground near Wachapreague Inlet.
A Sector San Diego MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew was immediately launched and the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Sea Otter was diverted to assist the passengers and crew.
“Complicated heavy-weather events like [Hermine] require hard decisions, and in this case, the captain and crew chose to abandon the vessel, possibly saving their lives”, Capt. Rick Wester, Commander, of the Hampton Roads Coast Guard sector.
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Officials said all three were rescued safely. No significant injuries were reported. “The Coast Guard recommends the use of a registered EPIRB, PPIRB, fully functioning marine band radio and proper use of life jackets”. The U.S. Coast Guard was investigating the incident.
