BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A family of three is safely back on land after nearly 24 hours at sea, rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard early Monday morning.
Mike Ryan, 39, left from the Plymouth boat ramp around 10 a.m. Sunday with his two children, ages 4 and 5. They were on their way to Provincetown, but were reported missing late Sunday night after they didn't return.
Luckily, Ryan told other family members where they were headed, and the Coast Guard was able to narrow their search based on where the family could have drifted off to.
Coast Guard Chief T.J. Malvesti told reporters there was a "significant search" overnight, with boats and a helicopter.
Around 3:30 a.m. Monday, that helicopter spotted the family in their disabled boat. The engine had failed.
"The helicopter spotted the boat adrift, vectored our lifeboat into position," Chief Malvesti said. "We hooked the boat up in tow, towed them back here to Scituate."
Part of that rescue can be seen in the video above. The family was taken aboard a 47-foot motor life boat out of Coast Guard Station Point Allerton for the three-hour tow trip home.
No injuries were reported, and the family appeared to be in good spirits, though very tired, when they returned to shore.
Chief Malvesti said there was very little protection from the elements.
"It is a runabout-style boat, and it does not have a cabin," he said. "Last night that was a little bit chilly, people were probably a little bit cold—but they did have jackets, life jackets, and the safety gear required of them, and that's why they arrived here this morning in great shape."
WBZ NewsRadio's James Rojas (@JamesRojasWBZ) reports
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