A 55-foot clam boat, the “Bing Bing,” had made its way into the waters of the Massachusetts coast. As they were making one of their clam hauls, the boat began to tip to one side — and continued tipping until it capsized, completely disappearing under the water in a cloud of smoke.
“Normally, boats will haul to one side when you’re hauling back, and this boat just kept leaning,” Joe Roderick, one of the fishermen told CNN affiliate WCVE. “The next thing I know, the rail — which is about 5 or 6 feet from the water — was touching the water.”
The three fishermen on board were tossed into the water and had no time to make a Mayday call, nor did they have time to put on protective gear. Instead, they were forced to cling to a black inflatable hose that had come off the boat — which was used to stir up the bottom of the sea floor — in the freezing 42-degree water. All they could do now was to wait for help to arrive.
They were in the water for about 45 minutes before help came. It is how the help came about that is truly amazing!
Only one Call for Help
Pam Harght was on a Zoom meeting for work in her third-floor office in her home in Marshfield, which is about 30 miles south of Boston. About 2:30 in the afternoon, she happened to look up and glance out of one of her windows which had a surprisingly clear view of the sea, which was about a mile away. Something caught her attention — a boat that seemed to be taking on water.
As she continued to watch, the boat suddenly disappeared, vanishing from view in a cloud of dark smoke! The whole incident had happened in a matter of 60 to 90 seconds. Pam was sure that others had seen it and that rescuers were on the way, but she did not see any response.
Shocked, Pam quickly excused herself from the Zoom work call and called 911. She was sure that help was on the way, but just to be sure ...
As it turned out, hers was the only call to 911. It would be the salvation of three men’s lives!
Personnel from the town of Scituate and the U.S. Coast Guard were quick to respond, using an aerial drone to spot the men, who were about a half mile off shore, surrounded by a patch of pink diesel fuel. They were just in time! Not only were they suffering from severe hypothermia, but they had also swallowed a lot of salt water and diesel fuel.
“We had three victims clinging for life,” said Scituate Fire Chief John Murphy. “They were helpless.” All three were taken to the hospital, with one being released the next day, and the other two having a good prognosis.
The fishermen and rescue workers alike were quick to praise Pam for her quick thinking and for taking action. Had she not done so, three lives would have been lost. Pam herself said, “All of it is just sheer luck and nothing worked in their favor, except the fact that I happened to be looking out the window.”
We should know that the Bible tells us differently. God has numbered our days, and we are powerless to go beyond them. “Seeing his [mankind’s] days are determined, the number of his months are with Thee [God], Thou hast appointed his bounds [life] that he cannot pass” (Job 14:55Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; (Job 14:5)). Our lives are in God’s hands, and “sheer luck” has nothing to do with it!
This is why God both wants and tells us to prepare to meet Him! God even explains just how short and fragile our lives really are. “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:1414Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (James 4:14)).
Were it not for God’s mercy, these men’s lives would have ended. If your life ended today, would you be prepared to meet God?
Touched by a Seal gives another amazing rescue story that emphasizes how fragile life really is.