West Indies Regatta 2017 1 of 3

[MIke R]

Wow......you just never know what you re going to see when you head offshore...

I could write a book

 

[KevinS]

The story from a crew member: FREE pulled out of the 'race' on Saturday to rescue a guy from the water. The guy was found floating with a pool noodle almost a mile offshore, and drifting west. He was barely communicative when they got to him and didn't want to be rescued. (Smile, thumbs up, totally out of it.) The crew decided to grab him anyway and bring him in. After they plucked him from the water he told the crew he'd set out from Gouvernuer early in the morning, and had been in the water for 7 hours! They radioed the Port and an ambulance took over at the dock.

Several boats had seen him on their way to Shell beach in the morning run. He declined any help. After some consideration FREE decided to return and rescue the guy. Good on the Free crew making that call. Clearly he wouldn't have lasted much longer.

A FB post from the swimmer, thanking the boat owner, Captain, and crew of Free in St Barth for saving his life. Currents pulled him out to sea while he was swimming at Gouverneur. He was treated for dehydration and heatstroke, but appears to be OK, and expected to be back to work on the following Monday:

Chers amis,
Samedi matin, comme beaucoup, j’ai voulu profiter de ce beau week-end en allant barboter à la plage avec ma frite, un peu plus loin que d’habitude !
J’ai malheureusement été surpris par des courants très forts, qui m’ont éloigné du rivage….J’ai dérivé pendant plusieurs heures au court desquelles, entre lutte, fatigue, déshydratation et insolation ; j’ai failli me noyer et être projeté contre les roches.
Heureusement après six heures de dérive et de lutte, j’ai été secouru par le bateau « Free In St Barth » qui participait à la régate.
Je tiens à remercier du fond du cœur Thierry DE BADEREAU, son Skiper Nicolas FAZIO et tout l’équipage du « Free In St Barth » pour m’avoir sauvé la vie.
Un grand merci aux pompiers et au personnel de l’hôpital pour leur efficacité, les soins, leur gentillesse et toute l’attention qu’ils m’ont apporté.
Je viens de rentrer chez moi, mais j’ai encore besoin de repos, physique et moral. Je vous remercie pour tous vos appels et messages d’attentions, de bon rétablissement qui m’ont beaucoup touché.
Je serai dès lundi, à nouveau au travail, en pleine forme.
Merci à tous.

 

[LuckyKid]

Thanks Kevin for posting this - Closing the loop on this truth is wilder than fiction story. That guy is truly lucky. And, FB has become the island's 2nd jungle telegraph… 8-}

 

[elgreaux]

quite an incredible story and I know the person.. !

 

[amyb]

I love happy endings...a good St Barths story for many years to come.