A 73‑year‑old Massachusetts woman died Thursday after her family was rescued last week from a boat that caught fire on a remote island.
The Sullivans were aboard the 30‑foot power‑boat “The Third Wave” anchored in Tarpaulin Cove when a fire broke out overnight. The blaze forced the family—a mother, her husband and their 37‑year‑old son—to swim about four miles to Naushon Island, near Martha’s Vineyard.
They spent more than 24 hours trapped in a barn on the island after the boat burned. Their marine radio survived the wreck and washed ashore, allowing the son, Tyler, to transmit a Mayday that prompted a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter to land on the island and lift the family to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis.
The family’s pet dog, which had alerted the crew to the fire while they slept, burned to death along with the vessel.
Cynthia Sullivan, who suffered injuries during the incident, was reported dead by a family member on Facebook. Her son posted a tribute describing her “peaceful passing” and recalling his father’s resilience.
“We played her some John Mellencamp as she passed,” the son wrote. “This hurts more than anything I could have imagined.” He added that his brother, Tyler, saved everyone in a chaotic situation but sees himself simply as a “hero.”
Coast Guard Sector Southeast New England Coordinator Scott Backholm said quick thinking and proper safety gear saved the family. “Mariners are encouraged to get first‑aid training and keep vessels well‑equipped,” he said.
The Sullivans had left Falmouth, Massachusetts, on Friday and expected to return Tuesday. Their disappearance set off a search that ended when the Coast Guard located the island and transported the family to medical care.
Source: Fox News
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