Coast Guard, locals rescue 44 stranded on breakwall in Provincetown

by U.S. Coast Guard 1st District Northeast on 29 May 2017 The Coast Guard, Provincetown Harbormaster, and TowBoatUS Provincetown responded Sunday to 44 people stranded on a breakwall near MacMillans Pier in Provincetown. The local fire department alerted watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England to the situation at 1:47 p.m, and reported a good Samaritan observed a large group of people stranded on the breakwall due to today’s astronomically high tides.

It was also reported that six people were in the water after two people fell in and four others attempted to help pull the two people out. A response boat crew from Coast Guard Station Provincetown, the harbormaster, and a TowBoatUS boat crew all responded to get the people out of the water and off the breakwall. Responders from the Provincetown Police Department, the Provincetown Fire Department, and Provincetown EMS and Rescue also responded to help.

Due to the shallow depth of the rescue location, the harbormaster and TowBoatUS crews used their boats to recover the people, who were then transferred aboard the Coast Guard boat. The Coast Guard boat then took the people to shore where emergency medical service personnel were waiting to assist as needed.

“The harbormaster and TowBoatUS crews did a great job responding to so many people in need of help, and we were happy to assist. It was an unorthodox response, but in the end, everyone is safe on shore,” said Petty Officer third Class Brain Glora, the coxswain of the Coast Guard response boat.

All 44 people were rescued, some with minor injuries reported. The scenic footpath the people were stranded on is reported to be a popular walking route to Long Point.