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The unforgiving ocean
Posted by Kim on August 28th, 2005
Fishermen are crazy; I know I’m married to one. These fellows were only out 60 miles or so. It’s a lot more unforgiving even further out.
As strong-willed as he was, Shawn Balestraci knew hope was fading after two days straight floating in the unforgiving ocean with no sign of rescue.
“The last morning was rough,” Balestraci said from his Cape Cod Hospital room yesterday. “It felt like we were running out of time.”
Balestraci and Andrew Joseph relied on each other to survive 50 hours in an open raft, enduring delirium, sharks, sunburn and hypothermia after their scalloper, the Northern Light, sank Monday.
Balestraci of Gloucester said the ocean was like ice water and he was so weary he “didn’t even care” when a shark came within 20 feet on the second day.
Joseph, 29, of Eastham and Balestraci, 32, were rescued Wednesday in a raft 65 miles off Nantucket. Joseph, a redhead, was so sunburned, the whites of his eyes are red, his sister said.
“They tried to keep each other awake,” said Krista Brown, Joseph’s sister. “They were screaming for boats or were completely delirious, talking nonsense.”
Edward Smith, the Northern Light’s master, couldn’t swim and drowned after the 50-foot scallop boat capsized. The Coast Guard said the vessel had two life rafts, but the boat’s emergency beacon failed to activate when it sank.
Brown said her brother, who has four children, clung to the wreckage for eight hours before an inflatable raft from the boat floated by Monday night. “They laid on their backs much of the time, submerged in water because the raft had a net-like bottom that allowed water in,” Brown said. “A tiger shark swam in the area for two hours, but never touched the raft.”
“I think if they were alone, I don’t think they would have made it,” said Joseph’s mother, Susan Smith of Maine.
At night, the pair shivered together in the cold water. “He said it was bad enough during the day, but the night was really scary,” said Shawn’s mother, Judy.
During the day, Brown said the sun burned her brother’s face so bad he used saltwater to cool his burn, only making it hurt more.
“His neck and elbows were burned as well. His knees are bruised from the wreck, his feet are water-logged and he has kidney problems brought by severe shivering,” Smith said. The sea offered some relief when the Northern Light’s cooler floated by. Inside, they found Coke, Gatorade, cheese, hot dogs and slices of turkey.
Through it all, Balestraci said her son, who has three children with his longtime girlfriend, told her he never thought he would die. “I knew in my heart I would make it,” he told her.
August 29th, 2005 at 9:55 pm
Yeah your married to one all right.
He’s home and safe for now. Be with him.
Be a part of him…you two rock.
Best friend.:mrgreen:
September 1st, 2005 at 2:18 am
lady you don’t know crap has you husband evey been lost at sea i don’t think so you have no idea what they went through out there so until you know shut you lips.
September 1st, 2005 at 4:14 am
Shut the fuck up you idiot.
January 7th, 2006 at 1:37 pm
Hello I am the widow of the Captain of that boat. You cannot imagine what I am going through. I thought that they were a crew, here where I live that means ALL. My heart felt thoughts went out to Seth and Andrew but not Shawn because of some bad info. And you know what me and my man we rocked too.