Mary Walker Marina, Mississippi Gulf Coast– On May 26, 2024, five men participating in the annual Mary Walker Marina Snapper Showdown fishing tournament were rescued by the Coast Guard from waters off the Mississippi Gulf Coast, after their 28-foot fishing boat sank 17 miles from Petit Bois Island. The unexpected and rapid sinking of the boat left the experienced crew stranded in the cold Gulf waters before eventually being saved, thanks to an ACR ResQLink 400 PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) that was provided last minute by the girlfriend of one of the survivors.

Despite the severity of the incident, all survivors, including one with a recent surgery, reported no lasting physical effects. The group consisted of Connor, Stephen, Easton, Dusty, and his 21-year-old son, Cody. Collectively, they had thousands of documented hours on the water, were highly experienced, and had completed all the boat safety checks before setting off. The combination of their significant boating experience and their preparation from a safety standpoint prior to setting sail, meant they were able to act quickly and decisively when the boat’s warning system activated.

“Alarms go off. Initially I thought it was a motor issue, maybe one had turned off, but then I heard someone shout, the boat is sinking,” recalled Stephen, whose father owned the boat.

Within moments, the boat was submerged, leaving the men no time to put on their life jackets which they were able to grab as the boat began to sink. “By the time we got life vests pulled out on to the deck, we were stepping into the water. I firmly believe it sank in as little as 30 seconds, none of us had life jackets on when we went into the water.” said Stephen.

Connor had fortunately remembered that his girlfriend had packed her ResQlink 400 PLB in his bag, having been concerned for his welfare after his recent surgery. With the PLB that Sarah had packed for him secured in the top zipper compartment of his bag, Connor was able to access the beacon very quickly as the boat began to sink. As the last person to enter the water, standing on the bow of the boat as it was sinking, Connor activated the PLB.

Given the rapid speed at which the boat sank, it was not possible to access the flares so the ResQlink 400 PLB was the only emergency signaling equipment that the crew had access to. A lot therefore relied upon the activation of the beacon. “I remember seeing it do something and as soon as I saw it react, I went in the water. The little green light flashing to show it was acquiring a satellite fix provided reassurance,” said Connor.

With five men overboard in cold water the situation was serious, and the group tried their best to stay close to each other and check on each other regularly. “We tried to keep our cool for the guy next to us, but the negative thoughts and the doubt crept in after a few hours. By hour three we were all cramping and it didn’t look good,” said boat captain, Dusty.

Although the Coast Guard reached their general vicinity to start performing a search, poor conditions and limited visibility stemming from a vast area of 3+ foot waves, meant that it was approximately five hours before the men finally saw the reassuring light of the Coast Guard vessel headed directly towards them to rescue them from the water.

ACR recommends that every crew member should carry a Personal Locator Beacon to help preserve the lives of all concerned and increase the chances of rescue for each and every member of a group/crew. The storage of these devices is very important and the ease of access to Connor’s PLB in this specific story, was a key element in the positive outcome that thankfully occurred.

Always keep a PLB within a life vest, in a holder/pouch or in a pocket on your person, or even in a Ditchbag. Ensure you have knowledge of how to operate your own life saving equipment and know the proper light sequence associated with your unit for optimal survival chances. Additionally, boats should always be equipped with an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon or EPIRB.

Connor reiterated how regular mariners and boat crew can often become complacent and how this can create situations such as the one they went through; “We know what to do, what leaving the docks looks like, what bilge pumps are supposed to do, how to check a boat down…everything was the way it was supposed to be, and it still happened.” The message the crew wants to get across is that it can happen to anyone, so always prepare beforehand and cooperate with the Coast Guard to ensure your safety.

Each of the men actively urges people to carry their own life-saving equipment such as a PLB or to have an EPIRB onboard and to ensure that everyone aboard knows what equipment is onboard, where it is, how to use it, and for the Captain/Skipper to ensure it is easily accessible. “It needs to be a figured expense, not an optional extra. If you have a boat, you have to have the essential safety and emergency equipment also, no excuses,” said Captain Dusty. “ACR saved my life. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for that beacon.”

Secure your ACR EPIRB or PLB for enhanced marine safety. Visit https://www.acrartex.com/ for detailed product information and ordering options.