A Connecticut family is being hailed as heroes after they helped rescue people trapped on a burning boat in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Barrigers were fishing on a charter boat named Lady Pamela II when they noticed another boat was on fire about one mile away. They quickly reeled in their lines and sped over to offer assistance. When they got closer, they saw that there were six people stranded on the burning boat.
“I saw smoke coming out, and I saw guys scurrying around. I looked down at my mate, and I said, ‘I think that boat’s on fire,'” said Lady Pamela II Captain Gene Checci. “When I picked up the outriggers to go get them, the boat was completely engulfed in fire, all the way up to the flybridge, and all the people were out on the bow, so I just went around it, came up alongside the boat.”
Cell phone video captured the dramatic rescue as the Barrigers and the crew of Lady Pamela II helped the six people off the 45-foot fishing boat New Latitude to safety. At one point, one of the passengers almost fell into the water when the boats collided due to the choppy water. Luckily, he was able to catch himself and was pulled back onto the boat.
Thanks to the quick-thinking actions of the crew of the Lady Pamela, all six people were recused from the burning boat.