A group of Texas A&M University students recently put their maritime training to use in a rescue mission, saving the lives of three people who had been stranded in the Gulf of Mexico for 15 days.
Trainees William Flores and Kai Ethridge, who were sailing from Texas to Florida aboard a Texas A&M Maritime Academy training ship, spotted the vessel just before dawn while on watch Saturday morning.
“Just after sunrise a small black object was spotted in the distance. I kept watching carefully and as it got closer I could see the shape of a small boat through my binoculars,” Etheridge said.
“We were passing them on the starboard side when all of a sudden three heads popped out of the little boat and started waving.”
Capt. Wade Howell, captain of the academy’s training ship, launched a rescue operation in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard.
The three were treated and then transferred to the Coast Guard on Sunday to be reunited with their families.
“I’ve been working at sea for over 20 years and I’ve only been involved in one other incident like this,” Howell said.
The unusual event took place aboard the 540-foot TS Kennedy, hosting 171 student candidates studying in a variety of degree programs at Texas A&M University on board for the university’s annual Summer Semester at Sea.
“It was a great experience to be a part of something like this,” Flores said.
“The actions of the captain and crew undoubtedly saved the lives of those on board.”
Flores added that he and the other cadets would know what to do if they found themselves in a situation like this.
“Things could have been a lot worse for all parties involved, but in the end it all worked out,” he said.
Approximately 300 Texas A&M University students, faculty, staff and crew were on board and the ship resumed its voyage to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for the first port of call of the semester.
