Owner Of Fishing Boat That Sank Off Montauk Speaks On Captain's Harrowing Save: 'It All Went Bad'

MONTAUK, NY — A captain was rescued from the water after a fishing vessel sank off of Montauk Tuesday, the United States Coast Guard said.

Coast Guard Station Montauk said they rescued the mariner Tuesday after an emergency position-indicating radio beacon, or EPIRB, alert prompted a multi-agency search about three miles southwest of Montauk.

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Watchstanders at the Northeast District Command Center received an EPIRB alert at about 11:24 a.m. from the 39-foot commercial fishing vessel Miss Alexa, the USCG said.

The vessel’s owner confirmed the boat was underway with one person aboard but that he was operating a separate vessel north of Montauk, the USCG said. Multiple attempts to contact the operator were unsuccessful, officials added.

Alfred Shaffer, owner of the Miss Alexa, told Patch about the harrowing ordeal on Wednesday.

Shaffer said he was not on the boat at the time; he was on his other vessel lobstering. Mike Fallon, the captain of his dragger, Miss Alexa, was out getting him bait, he said.

"A giant wake and a giant bag of fish caused everything to shift and all the weight moved to one side, causing a problem," Shaffer said, "Mike, while trying to remedy the problem, got his hand pinched between the gallows frame and door, breaking two fingers" and crushing his thumb, he said. "It all went bad soon after," he said.

Shaffer added: "Mike is a extremely experienced captain. He has owned many boats of his own. I got him out of retirement to help me. Accidents happen. Nothing is stable, things shift — and sometimes you're so busy you don’t see a big wave coming."

Coast Guard watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and launched a boat crew from Coast Guard Station Montauk, officials said.

The command center coordinated a joint response with the U.S. Air Force Air National Guard and the New York Army National Guard Aviation Support, the USCG said.

The Air National Guard diverted a nearby HC-130 Hercules aircrew to the scene, while the Army National Guard dispatched two HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to assist in the search, the USCG said.

Upon arrival, the HC-130 crew established communications with Coast Guard responders and located debris in the water consistent with the reported distress, the USCG said.

The HC-130 coordinated with inbound Army National Guard helicopter crews to begin search patterns and remained overhead to direct the operation, the USCG said.

Coast Guard Station Montauk crews located and recovered the mariner from the water within the search area, officials said.

The individual, who was not wearing a life jacket, was reported to be in stable condition, the USCG said.

Coast Guard personnel provided first aid and coordinated with local emergency medical services for transport and further evaluation.

The mariner was found clinging to an EPIRB and transferred to local EMS for evaluation, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound said.

"When we arrived on scene and saw the debris, we knew this wasn’t going to be an everyday search and rescue case," said a Coast Guard Station Montauk crew member. "Finding the mariner and reuniting him with his family is why we do this job."

The rescue highlighted the importance of rapid coordination and teamwork among all responding agencies, officials said. Coast Guard and National Guard crews worked closely to search the debris field, locate the person in the water, and deliver immediate medical care until local emergency services arrived, officials added.

"This case illustrates the importance of having adequate safety equipment in working condition and properly registered," said Lt. j.g. Mariah Dewey, Sector Long Island Sound command duty officer. “If not for the EPIRB, the Coast Guard’s response would have been significantly delayed and may not have had the same outcome."

The Coast Guard urged all mariners to ensure their EPIRBs are properly registered and maintained.