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They were asleep on their boat and anchored Cape CodThe Sullivan family woke up to the barking of their dogs, the sound of fireworks, and smoke. His boat was on fire.
Tyler Sullivan and his parents jumped from the boat Monday night and swam, in the dark, to a nearby island. forbes Family. Tyler and his father, Patrick Sullivan, survived, but Cynthia “Sissy” Sullivan was badly injured during the ordeal and died at a hospital Thursday, a Cape End spokeswoman said. Islands The District Attorney’s Office said. She was 73 years old.
Patrick Sullivan, who was injured in the fire, is awake and breathing without help, his family posted Facebook,
Once Sullivan reached the small island, he hid in a barn and waited for help. They had left Falmouth on Friday and planned to return on Tuesday after spending the weekend near Naushon Island, the largest of the chain of beach islands. Massachusetts Mainland and Martha’s Vineyard.
When the family did not return till Tuesday night, relatives started getting worried and the Coast Guard along with local authorities started searching. Other boaters were alerted to search efforts Tuesday night, according to audio provided by Broadcastify.com.
“Marine travelers are requested to keep a close watch and render assistance if possible, and report all sightings to the Coast Guard,” the alert said.
It wasn’t until Tyler Sullivan found a marine radio washed up on the beach that he was able to call for help Wednesday.
“Mayday, Mayday, Mayday! Our ship has fallen into Tarpaulin Cove!” he told a Coast Guard dispatcher, noting that he and his parents had taken shelter in a farmhouse. “Our ship burned while we were sleeping and we barely escaped!”
The dispatcher asked Sullivan about his parents’ medical conditions and whether they were able to walk or get up.
The Coast Guard helicopter rescued the family and airlifted them to the hospital. Sullivan’s brother, Chris Sullivan, initially told WCVB-TV that his mother was in critical but stable condition. But he confirmed on Facebook that he had died.
He wrote, “When she passed we played some John Mellencamp with her, that was her absolute favourite, she loved it.” “This hurts more than I could have ever imagined, I lean on my close friends and family and my two young children. We will get through this together.”
Scott Backholm, search and rescue mission coordinator for Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England, credited the family for their prompt response to the fire.
“Quick thinking and having quality equipment helped the family survive and seek help,” he said in a statement.
Chris Sullivan praised his brother’s actions.
“My brother saved them both, he was able to get them off the boat in extremely chaotic circumstances, he doesn’t want to be called a hero, but he wants to be called a hero,” he wrote on Facebook.
Officials say that investigation into the matter is ongoing.