The Coast Guard reported Tuesday that two boaters and their dog were discovered alive, 10 days after they were last heard from.
Kevin Hyde, 65, and Joe Ditomasso, 76, were planning a trip from New Jersey to Florida. The Coast Guard reported in a statement that they were last heard from on December 3 when they left North Carolina.
Their boat was out of fuel and had no electricity, so their radios didn’t function, but they were able to flag down the crew of the tanker Silver Muna about 214 miles off the coast of Delaware, according to the Coast Guard.
“Hyde and Ditomasso gained the attention of the Silver Muna crew by waving their arms and a flag,” the Coast Guard stated.
It stated that they had no urgent health concerns.
The Coast Guard said it will transport the couple and their dog to New York, the tanker’s next port of call, where they will be evaluated.
“We are overjoyed with the outcome of the case and look forward to reuniting Mr Hyde and Mr Ditomasso with their family and friends,” said Cmdr. Daniel Schrader in a statement.
Schrader used the incident to emphasize the significance of safety equipment, such as emergency position indicating radio beacons, which allow boaters to call first responders.
The Coast Guard, the Navy, and other organizations and services searched over 21,164 square miles of water in all, according to the Coast Guard.
