Rescuers find man clinging to bait box after boat sinks in Hawaii, officials say
A man radioed for help as his boat started sinking off the coast of a Hawaiian island, and rescuers found him about four hours later “clinging to a bait box” in the water, officials said.
U.S. Coast Guard officials heard a pair of mayday calls from the 59-year-old man at about 5:40 a.m. Tuesday, June 24, according to a news release.
He was offshore from Ilio Point on the island of Molokai, officials said, noting he didn’t describe his boat in the radio calls.
The Coast Guard and the Maui Fire Department sent crews to search for the man, according to officials, and he was spotted by helicopter at about 9:40 a.m.
A rescue swimmer was deployed, and the helicopter crew hoisted the man from the surf, officials said.
He was the sole occupant of the 29-foot Hana Hou when it sank, according to officials.
He was taken for medication evaluation, officials said, adding that “no injuries were reported.”
This story was originally published June 25, 2025 at 2:27 PM with the headline "Rescuers find man clinging to bait box after boat sinks in Hawaii, officials say."
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