Toll-Free: 888.472.1440
Phone: 713.224.7800
Interested in working with us? Call us Toll Free at 888.472.1440 or fill out this quick form and we will contact you within 24 hours!
Three fishermen were stranded for eight days off the coast of Texas. They were rescued by Eddie Yaklin, of Kingsville, Texas, approximately 180 miles off the coast of Texas after their fishing boat accident.
The three men, James Phillips, 30, Curtis Hall, 28, and Tressel Hawkins, 43, began their fishing trip on August 21, 2009. They were finally rescued on Sunday morning, August 30, 2009.
The United States Coast Guard searched for the men for several days with assistance from Air Station Houston, Air Station Corpus, a small boat, two C-130’s and two Coast Guard Cutters.
“The Coast Guard searched approximately 86,000 square miles for these gentlemen,” said Coast Guard Petty Officer Renee Iloaiello. The Coast Guard suspended the search on the previous Friday.
Yaklin, the owner of several south Texas car dealerships, rescued the men two days later when he stumbled upon their capsized fishing boat.
“It’s like finding a needle in a haystack,” said Iloaiello of Yaklin.
The men fought hunger, heat and the fear of sharks during their eight day ordeal. They apparently survived by rationing gasoline, bubblegum, chips and crackers. Yaklin treated the three men to a steak and potato dinner aboard his 75-yacht.
“We just hugged each other and said we’re going home,” said Phillips when the fisherman realized that they had been spotted by Yaklin.
Hawkins appeared on NBC’s “Today Show” the next day where he said that is was the power of prayer that had the men feeling safe.
Read More About Boaters Rescued After 8 Days on top of Capsized Boat...
