Missing Fisherman's Family Not Giving Up Hope After Boat Sinks

PROVINCETOWN, MA — It's been more than 24 hours since a fishing boat with four people onboard sank 20 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, and as of Tuesday afternoon, the U.S. Coast Guard hasn't been able to find the fisherman.

The U.S. Coast Guard hasn't identified the fishermen, but family members to one of the men, Jeffrey Matthews, told reporters they haven't given up hope that they will be rescued. Matthew's niece Natasha Dobson told WGME 13 News her uncle is an experienced fisherman who has been lost at sea before. She said she's hopeful that experience will pull him through.

"He’s the type of guy that would take his shirt off his back for you," daughter Reyann Matthews added. "I mean, since I can remember, he's just someone I can always look up to."

Around 1 a.m., the Coast Guard was alerted that the Emmy Rose, an 82-foot fishing vessel, sank northeast of Provincetown. Marine Traffic data showed the ship went out of range Monday morning after departing from Portland, Maine, on Nov. 17. Coast Guard officials said there were no answers on the vessel's satellite phone, but they were able to send a helicopter to search the last known location of the Emmy Rose.

Upon arrival to the vessel's last known position, Coast Guard crews discovered debris and an empty life raft.

All four men onboard were part of Portland's fishing community. The vessel was scheduled to port in Gloucester Monday morning.