MIAMI – A 64-year-old man spent three days stranded on an island in the Bahamas until being rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard, which had spotted flares being fired near a disabled sailboat.
Crew members from a Coast Guard Air Station Miami aircraft dropped food, water and a radio to communicate with the man, whom the agency did not identify.
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Aerial photos released Tuesday by the Coast Guard show the letters “SOS” had been etched into the sand on the island’s beach.
#UPDATE: Additional imagery from @USCG Air Station Miami @USCGAux & @CBPAMORegDirSE aircrews from Friday's rescue of 64-year-old Dutch man stranded on Cay Sal, the Bahamas. The search and rescue mission was coordinated by Sector Key West watchstanders. @TheRBDF @USEmbassyNassau pic.twitter.com/X9oV5ziCC2
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) August 22, 2023
The cutter Paul Clark rescued the man Friday on Cay Sal, the Coast Guard said in a news release.
The man was in good health, the release said.
“We’re proud to have saved this man’s life,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Dev Craig. “This case serves as a perfect example of why you must have the proper safety equipment on your vessel. Without seeing the flare, the case may not have had a successful outcome.”
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This story has been corrected to delete an erroneous reference to an aircrew rescuing the man; he was rescued by a Coast Guard cutter.