Article content“I live in Clark’s Harbour. I heard you guys yelling for help,” wrote Micheal Darrigan in a message to Faith the following day. “I called 911 and told them to dispatch the Coast Guard. I could not pinpoint you guys, but the local fire department came here and eventually one of them spotted you. My yard and my neighbours were full of emergency vehicles and people trying to spot you guys.”Article contentTo the dismay of the trio, the Coast Guard didn’t see them and went past them on one side, while a speedboat that was also searching went past them on the other side.Article content“About 10 minutes later, a lobster boat was coming right at us. That’s when we knew someone was looking for us,” says Daniel Atwood.Article contentThe Pte Sylvester Belmont, captained by Andrew Newell, had Daniel and Faith in its sights – guided by fisherman Merle Atwood, who was on the bow pointing the way. By now it was about 8 p.m.Article contentArticle contentIt was by chance that Newell and Merle Atwood had teamed up for the rescue.Article content“I was home. I live right down by the wharf and I seen the fire department zodiac go by to the wharf. My instant reaction was my son was in trouble, so I headed for the wharf,” says Newell.Article contentAlong the way, he confirmed his son was okay. When he got to the wharf, Merle Atwood was the first person he saw.Article content“He could see three people in the water and could hear them. He wanted binoculars. He knew exactly where they were,” Newell says.Article contentWith Newell’s boat close by, the duo took off. “He directed me where to go,” Newell says. “I wouldn’t have had a clue.”Article contentNewell estimates that Daniel and Faith were about a mile to a mile-and-a-half from land when he picked them up.Article content“We have a man overboard ladder aboard the boat. She came to the ladder first. She got about halfway up and couldn’t go any further, so Merle gaffed her by the life jacket and I toppled her into the boat. He (Daniel) was in pretty good shape.”Article contentArticle contentAs for Tony, he was drifting towards Outer Island.Article content One of the buoys that helped keep Daniel Atwood, Tony Nickerson and Faith Nickerson afloat for three hours as well as some belongings from their capsized boat were found the next day along the Cape Sable Island shoreline. KATHY JOHNSONArticle contentTHE ORDEAL ON THE WATERArticle content“We all got separated at one point, then Daniel and I got back together,” recalls Faith. “Dad was a way behind us because his legs started cramping. He could only use his arms. So he was a way behind us, in the end of it.”Article contentA speedboat, skippered by Greg Smith, rescued Tony.Article content“When we seen the boat coming for us, we were so happy and thanking God,” says Daniel Atwood. “We swam the whole time. We were so sore we could barely climb up the stairs to go home. It was rough. I’m glad we got in far enough to be able to scream. Our voices were pretty well gone when we got home.”Article contentFaith says the rescue came in the nick of time.Article content“Towards the end of it, I told him (Daniel) I’m starting to give up. When I got to the boat, they had to gaff me up and haul me aboard that way. I couldn’t feel my feet or anything,” she says.
Three hours adrift in ocean: If it hadnt been for the life jackets, it would have been a whole different story
