As luck would have it, however, “634” was only a short distance from the incident when the report came in on channel 16. At 1517, Coxswain Joseph Laudano made the call into STANLON. Despite the challenging conditions, the crew was on scene within a few minutes.
Upon arrival, the victims had just been picked up by a Good Samaritan and were quickly transferred to 634.
Once on board, they were assessed for any injuries and other first aid issues by crew member Judy Hershberger. They were also provided fluids and blankets and made comfortable.
One of the victims was in moderate hypothermia and kept under observation. By 1605, the crew was safely under way en route to New London with their two new “passengers”. They were returned to their point of embarkation a little cold and shaken from the ordeal, but safe and happy to be alive.
Their vessel, unfortunately, was later deemed unsalvageable by a professional tow/salvage boat and left adrift, where it eventually sank.