FILE PHOTO OF RBDF Patrol Craft

A couple is happy to be back on land after being rescued earlier Tuesday morning.  

Working closely in a true display of interagency collaboration, a new Search and Rescue (SAR) Team consisting of members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Royal Bahamas Police Force, Operations Bahamas Turks and Caicos, and BASRA sprang into action after a call was placed by a concerned relative, reporting their loved ones had failed to show up after a fishing trip. 

Two Bahamians had left Moss Town, Exuma yesterday morning for a fishing trip, never returning.  As soon as the SAR alert was issued, the members of the SAR Teams initiated search protocols immediately with both air and sea assets deployed from relevant agencies. 

A USCG fixed wing aircraft out of Miami detected them at 0800 this morning near Hawksbill Rock in the Exumas, almost 50 nm from their original position and broadcasted their location. A commercial fishing boat Weswin, which was near the area, responded and made their way to rescue the two persons onboard, another extraordinary display of community involvement that is needed to help police our nation. A Police vessel would eventually bring them back safely to Exuma.  Investigations are ongoing to determine exactly what went wrong.

 The RBDF takes this opportunity to urge boaters to always have personal protective equipment onboard like life jackets, radios, GPS and to leave a plan with responsible persons of where they plan to go and when they plan to be back and stick to that.  The Royal Bahamas Defence Force embraces the opportunity to serve alongside partner agencies in protecting the maritime environment of the Bahamas.

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