A dramatic rescue unfolded Monday afternoon off the coast of Falmouth, Massachusetts, when the U.S. Coast Guard airlifted a man from frigid, stormy waters near Cape Cod. The operation came as a powerful nor’easter battered the region, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and poor visibility to the Massachusetts shoreline.
The alarm was raised around 3:30 p.m. when crew members aboard a Steamship Authority ferry traveling between Vineyard Haven and Woods Hole spotted a person struggling in the water near Juniper Point. Ferry operators immediately threw life rings toward the man and alerted authorities as passengers watched anxiously in the rough conditions.
“It was horrendous out there,” said passenger Roy Mundy, who was among those who rushed to help. “Everyone stood up at once when someone shouted ‘man overboard.’ We all wanted him to be found, but it looked bleak—it was so dangerous out there.”
Within minutes, the Coast Guard, Falmouth Fire Department, and Environmental Police were dispatched to the scene. High waves and low visibility complicated the search, forcing crews to rely on aerial support.
At 4:25 p.m., a Coast Guard helicopter crew located the man floating off Nobska Point. A rescue swimmer descended into the turbulent sea to reach him, securing the individual before both were hoisted safely into the helicopter.