Stormy surprise off Falmouth
On a blustery Monday afternoon, a passenger ferry spotted someone struggling in the choppy water near Juniper Point and Woods Hole. The weather was all drama — wind-driven rain from a nor’easter made the sea rough and visibility lousy, turning a routine ferry run into an unexpected emergency.
Fast-moving rescue
The ferry crew tossed life rings and tried to help, and local authorities sprang into action. Coast Guard crews, Falmouth Fire, and Environmental Police scrambled to the scene. About an hour after the ferry’s alert, a Coast Guard helicopter located the person near Nobska Point, deployed a rescue swimmer, and hoisted them aboard.
Taken to safety
The helicopter flew the rescued person to Joint Base Cape Cod, where EMS met them and transported them to Falmouth Hospital for treatment of exposure. Fortunately, they were not seriously injured — just roughed up by the sea and the storm.
Ferry passengers step up
People on the Vineyard Haven ferry leapt into action when someone shouted that a person had fallen overboard. Passengers and crew braved the windy deck, throwing life rings and trying to keep the victim in sight. One passenger described the scene as intense and frightening — with families watching anxiously and helpers doing their best to stay steady on the rocking boat.
What authorities are doing
Falmouth police are looking into how the person ended up in the water. For now, officials are focused on the fortunate outcome and on reminding folks that sea conditions can flip from calm to dangerous fast — especially during a nor’easter.
A quick reminder
Big thanks to the ferry crew, fellow passengers, and Coast Guard teams who worked together to bring someone out of the water and into care. If you find yourself near the water in messy weather: stay alert, keep a safe distance, and let the pros handle the dramatic rescues (they’ve got the helicopter part down).
