Coast Guard and Navy Join Forces to Rescue Mother, Daughter, and Pets Near Hawaii

While Hurricane Gilma approached the Hawaiian islands, a mother and her seven-year-old daughter found themselves facing a life-threatening situation aboard a sailing vessel in the Pacific Ocean. They were accompanied by their pets—a cat and a tortoise—when their boat encountered severe weather conditions.

The vessel, a 47-foot sailboat named Albroc, was flying a French flag and was approximately 925 miles off the coast of Honolulu when it sent out a distress signal on August 24. The alert reached the Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Honolulu around 12:33 p.m. local time, capturing the attention of the U.S. Coast Guard.

A crew from the Coast Guard’s Barbers Point air station swiftly launched an aircraft to locate the Albroc. During a mayday call, the mother reported that they were struggling against worsening weather and needed immediate rescue assistance. Tragically, she also informed officials that a man aboard the sailboat, who later was identified as the captain, was deceased.

The plane’s crew observed the woman signaling with flares but was unable to communicate directly with her due to the tumultuous weather. Winds reached as high as 20 miles per hour and waves soared up to six feet, complicating rescue efforts. In light of these conditions—directly related to the effects of Hurricane Gilma, which has since diminished—additional help was sought from the U.S. Navy.

On the morning of August 26, Coast Guard aircraft spotted the woman and her daughter on the sailboat, waving for attention before retreating into the boat’s cabin. Despite efforts to establish radio contact, communication remained unsuccessful. Later that day, a Singapore-flagged tanker responded to the Coast Guard’s request for assistance but was unable to make the necessary rescue due to deteriorating weather conditions.

Recognizing the urgency, the Navy dispatched USS William P. Lawrence, a guided-missile destroyer, to the scene. The conditions were precarious, as the approaching storm posed a significant risk to both the rescuers and those in peril. Once on site, the Navy determined that they had a limited window—about six hours—to carry out the operation before the conditions worsened further.

Quickly moving into action, a small boat crew was launched from the USS William P. Lawrence toward the Albroc. By the end of this daring operation, both the mother and daughter were rescued, along with their beloved pets—the cat and tortoise.

The Navy destroyer successfully reached Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam with the rescued individuals by Wednesday evening, where they received essential care and support. However, the body of the deceased captain could not be recovered from the sailboat due to the unsafe conditions, leaving it adrift approximately 1,000 miles east of Honolulu. The cause of his death and the circumstances surrounding their sailing adventure through the hurricane remain unclear.

Cmdr. Bobby Wayland, commanding officer of the USS William P. Lawrence, expressed pride in the crew’s efficiency and professionalism throughout the rescue. He highlighted the impressive and cooperative nature of the Navy and Coast Guard’s collaboration during such a critical mission, emphasizing the importance of teamwork in high-pressure situations.

This remarkable rescue underscores not only the dangers posed by natural disasters such as hurricanes but also the commitment of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard personnel to saving lives at sea under harrowing circumstances.

Source: USA TODAY