A worrying phone call was made just hours before a tragedy struck when a fishing boat sank off the coast of Massachusetts. The vessel, named Lily Jean, was piloted by captain Gus Sanfilippo, who, along with six crew members, is now presumed dead after the 72-foot boat capsized in frigid 12-degree waters.
Fisherman Sebastian Noto recounted a conversation with Sanfilippo in the early hours, around 3 a.m. They talked about the harsh conditions outside. “I quit. It’s too cold,” Sanfilippo supposedly said, explaining that his air vents had frozen. Noto described him as calm but clearly struggling with the bitter cold.
As the hours passed without any sign of Sanfilippo, Noto started getting anxious. “I was about 30 miles east of him. We always work together. We’re like glue,” he remarked, emphasizing their close working relationship.
The Coast Guard quickly mobilized a helicopter and boat after receiving a distress signal from the Lily Jean, roughly 25 miles from Cape Ann, Massachusetts. Unfortunately, the search was officially halted on Saturday, with officials noting that no mayday calls had been made and about 1,000 square miles had been searched.
Colonel Jamie Frederick, the commander of the Boston Coast Guard Sector, mentioned how challenging it was to call off the search. “Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families and friends of the lost Lily Jean crew,” he said, expressing the gravity of the situation for the Gloucester community.
As investigations into the incident continue, it’s noted that Sanfilippo and his crew had appeared on an episode of “Nor’easter Men” back in 2012, showcasing their time spent at sea hunting for seafood.
While one body has been recovered, there are still six individuals unaccounted for. Among those missing is 22-year-old Jada Summitt, an environmental biology graduate, whose family spoke about her dream of working at sea. Her aunt, Heather Michaels, described this passion as something Summitt “loved and put her heart and soul into.”
Vito Giacalone, director of the Gloucester Fishing Community Conservation Fund, expressed his heartbreak over the incident, noting it’s been a long time since such a tragedy occurred, with so many lives lost at once.
Thoughts remain with the families and community affected by this devastating event.
