One of the members of a family who became stranded on a Massachusetts island after jumping off their burning boat has died, her family confirmed on Friday. After being rescued on Wednesday, Tyler Sullivan and his mother, Cynthia Sullivan, were being treated at Cape Cod Hospital. Patrick Sullivan, Cynthia’s husband and Tyler’s father, was flown to a Boston hospital’s burn unit. Cynthia Sullivan died, her son Christopher Sullivan confirmed. “My mom passed last night. She went in peace,” he wrote on social media.The three members of the Sullivan family were aboard the Third Wave when it departed Eel Pond near Falmouth on Friday. They were expected to return on Tuesday afternoon. A concerned family member reported them overdue on Tuesday evening.According to a statement from the Coast Guard, the family awoke to the fire on the vessel Monday night, abandoned the boat and swam to Naushon Island. They took shelter in a barn. On Wednesday morning, the Coast Guard received a mayday call from the family after they found their marine radio washed up on shore.”Our ship burned while we were sleeping. We barely escaped,” Tyler Sullivan’s frantic mayday call read.Volunteers from Naushon Trust were the first to reach the family and administer first aid. A Coast Guard helicopter flew them off the island.”My dad is awake and breathing on his own. My brother saved both of them, he was able to get them off the boat under extremely chaotic circumstances, he doesn’t want to be called a hero, but he is,” Christopher Sullivan wrote. “Again, thank you for all the support, it means the world. Please pray for my mom. She was the most caring, loving, tough woman I have ever known.”The U.S. Coast Guard is leading the investigation with assistance from Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office.
GOSNOLD, Mass. —
One of the members of a family who became stranded on a Massachusetts island after jumping off their burning boat has died, her family confirmed on Friday.
After being rescued on Wednesday, Tyler Sullivan and his mother, Cynthia Sullivan, were being treated at Cape Cod Hospital. Patrick Sullivan, Cynthia’s husband and Tyler’s father, was flown to a Boston hospital’s burn unit.
Cynthia Sullivan died, her son Christopher Sullivan confirmed.
“My mom passed last night. She went in peace,” he wrote on social media.
The three members of the Sullivan family were aboard the Third Wave when it departed Eel Pond near Falmouth on Friday. They were expected to return on Tuesday afternoon. A concerned family member reported them overdue on Tuesday evening.
According to a statement from the Coast Guard, the family awoke to the fire on the vessel Monday night, abandoned the boat and swam to Naushon Island. They took shelter in a barn.
On Wednesday morning, the Coast Guard received a mayday call from the family after they found their marine radio washed up on shore.
“Our ship burned while we were sleeping. We barely escaped,” Tyler Sullivan’s frantic mayday call read.
Volunteers from Naushon Trust were the first to reach the family and administer first aid. A Coast Guard helicopter flew them off the island.
“My dad is awake and breathing on his own. My brother saved both of them, he was able to get them off the boat under extremely chaotic circumstances, he doesn’t want to be called a hero, but he is,” Christopher Sullivan wrote. “Again, thank you for all the support, it means the world. Please pray for my mom. She was the most caring, loving, tough woman I have ever known.”
David Curran/Satellite News Service
A Coast Guard helicopter flew them off the island. At least one person has serious injuries.
The U.S. Coast Guard is leading the investigation with assistance from Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office.