A man whose boat capsized off the shore of Milford on Wednesday was rescued and treated for hypothermia after clinging onto the boat for over four hours until a clamming crew spotted him and radioed for help.
Emergency crews received the report at 7:30 a.m. of a fisherman in the water south of Charles Island clinging to a capsized boat, according to the Milford Fire Department.
Fire officials said Capt. Mark Peckman and his crew of the clamming vessel The Joseph Julius were making their way out for the day when they spotted a man who had been in the water since 3 a.m. when his fishing boat capsized. The crew were able to help the man onto the clamming vessel and were met by the Milford Fire Department’s Marine Division on their way back to port, fire officials said.
Milford fire officials said the man was showing signs of mild hypothermia and was later taken in an ambulance to an area hospital to be evaluated.
Fire officials confirmed no one else was on the boat when it capsized.
The victim, officials said, lost his phone and any way to communicate when the boat overturned.
“With the change of seasons brings decreasing water temperatures and the increased chances of severe water conditions,” fire officials said in a statement. “The Milford Fire Department reminds all boaters to use caution and to always be safe.
“The quick actions from the crew of the Joseph Julius truly helped to save this individual’s life and we cannot thank all of them enough.”
Fire officials said the U.S. Coast Guard’s Sector Long Island Sound was notified of the incident, which remains under investigation.
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