Coast Guard rescues 80-year-old in Rhode Island

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 1st District Northeast Contact: 1st District Public Affairs Office: (617) 223-8515 After Hours: (617) 717-9609 1st District online newsroom

Coast Guard rescues 80-year-old in Rhode Island

Editors' Note: Click on the image to download high-resolution version.

BOSTON — The Coast Guard rescued an 80-year-old man Monday after he set sail from Cuttyhunk to New Bedford and didn't check-in as expected.

Peter Horan's caretaker called watchstanders at Sector Southeastern New England at about 11:45 a.m. reporting that Horan was missing in his 34-foot cabin cruiser, Best Friends, after he didn't return to New Bedford at noon as planned.

Coast Guard aircrews from Air Station Cape Cod and boat crews from Stations Woods Hole and Menemsha, along with crews from various partner agencies, scoured the Buzzards Bay area searching for Horan and his boat. 

While monitoring Ch. 16 during the search, watchstanders overheard a radio hail from a good Samaritan in Rhode Island calling the vessel Best Friends. Watchstanders launched Station Castle Hill after determining the hail was coming from a sailing vessel near the Sakonnet River. 

The 45-foot response boat crew arrived on scene and escorted Horan to awaiting family and Emergency Medical Services at Sakonnet Harbor.

Crews searched about 425 square miles, almost the size of New York City.

Partner agencies who assisted in searching for Horan include:

New Bedford Fire Department

New Bedford Harbormaster

New Bedford Police Department

Marion Harbormaster

Mattapoiset Harbormaster

Westport Harbormaster

Dartmouth Police Department

 

-USCG-