What happened off Cape Ann
Early Friday morning the 72 foot commercial fishing boat Lily Jean triggered an emergency beacon about 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts. Coast Guard crews responded and found a debris field, an inflated but empty life raft, and one unresponsive person in the water. Authorities say one crew member died and six others remain missing as the accident is being investigated.
Massive search covered a lot of ocean
The Coast Guard says its teams searched for roughly 24 hours and covered about 1,047 square miles using aircraft, cutters and small boats. That is a lot of sea to sweep. Crews coordinated patterns based on weather, sea state and whatever evidence they had at the scene but came up empty on finding additional survivors.
Cold water made survival harder
Water temperature in that area was reported at roughly 40 degrees Fahrenheit. In water that cold a person can lose consciousness and die in a short time without proper protection. That grim fact makes the search timeline and conditions a central part of the ongoing investigation into what went wrong on the Lily Jean.
Investigation now in Coast Guard hands
The Coast Guard Northeast District has taken charge of the inquiry into the sinking. Officials will examine the wreckage, the emergency beacon activation, the life raft deployment and any other evidence to try to determine the cause. Local news outlets reported the story as it unfolded and will follow the probe.
Community reaction and next steps
Gloucester and nearby fishing towns know the sea can be unforgiving and they are already offering support to families and crewmates. The Coast Guard will continue to coordinate with local authorities while investigators work to piece together the timeline and cause of the tragedy.
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