On Sept. 26, a man and his Golden Retriever were rescued by the Coast Guard after they were hit by Hurricane Helene. The duo were sailing off the coast of Sanibel Island, Florida, when their boat started sinking. They were about 25 miles away from the coast. Fortunately, the Coast Guard got there just in time to rescue them, with the man and his dog getting out of the ordeal in fairly good condition.
Watch US Coast Guard save man and dog stuck on sailboat during Hurricane Helene
Sailor Earl Barcome and his pet dog Gunn, who used to live on their 36-foot sailboat, almost lost their lives due to Hurricane Helene. They had been living on the boat for about a year after Barcome’s 30-year relationship came to an end. It wasn’t easy for him to find his perfect sailboat, Selkie.
However, the man and his dog didn’t expect to lose the boat to Hurricane Helene. After he called the Coast Guard, they soon sent a helicopter to their rescue. Rescuers from the USCG Air Station Clearwater rappelled down and helped save the duo from the harsh water conditions.
According to the New York Post, the duo was rescued from the Gulf of Mexico. Barcome had started a “new chapter” of his life with Gunn by his side by achieving his lifelong dream of living on a sailboat. Although the boat cost him an “overloaded credit card,” it brought him “peace, purpose, and healing.” Having his loyal canine companion by his side was a bonus, with the man telling his dog “this isn’t the day we’re going to die” when Hurricane Helene hit their sailboat.
After losing pretty much everything to the hurricane, his family has set up a GoFundMe for Barcome. They have already raised over $16K of the $100,000 goal. While his family is grateful for all the contributions, they noted that sharing his story would also prove helpful.
