BOSTON — As the sun set over Nantucket Island, fishing enthusiasts Nicholas Whitbeck and Joe Tormay observed an unfamiliar sight on the water that initially appeared to be a deceased whale. Upon closer inspection, they realized it was a man atop what they discovered to be a capsized fishing boat, signaling for assistance with his hat.

The stranded individual had lost his phone when the boat overturned and was using the vessel’s hull to stay afloat while attempting to catch the attention of any nearby boats. If no one had seen him, he would have faced a perilous night in the frigid waters, where temperatures hovered between 55 to 58 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 12.8 to 14.4 degrees Celsius) — conditions ripe for hypothermia.

Whitbeck recounted how they had just moved to a fishing area with fewer boats when they spotted the distressed man far off in the distance. “Joe pointed it out first, thinking it might be a whale a couple of miles away. But as we got closer, it clearly resembled a capsized boat,” he explained. Seeing the man’s hands waving for help prompted immediate action.

The duo quickly organized their gear, revved their boat to maximum speed, and contacted the U.S. Coast Guard. They approached carefully and ensured the man received a life jacket using a boat hook. This provided him with flotation assistance during the transfer, just in case anything went wrong.

The man disclosed that he had been clinging to the hull for nearly an hour, being carried further away from the shore as the sun began to set around 4 p.m. “Our timely arrival was fortunate for this type of rescue,” Whitbeck remarked. He learned from the man that a large wave had capsized his boat, and despite trying to signal three other vessels, he was ultimately overlooked. It was sheer luck that Whitbeck and Tormay noticed him.

They carefully positioned their boat to rescue him, and though the man was initially hesitant to share details about his situation, he expressed immense gratitude once they were safely back on board. “The outcome could have been vastly different,” Whitbeck noted. “An early morning search could have revealed only a capsized boat, which is a terrifying thought.”

Tormay, who has a background with the Coast Guard, emphasized the camaraderie among fishermen, especially around Nantucket Island, stating, “Any fisherman would have stepped in to help like we did. We’re all connected out here.”