Fisherman Toby Peddle is embraced by a member of the public in New-Wes-Valley, N.L., at a community event celebrating the rescue of him and six other fishermen, July 21, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Elling Lien, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
HALIFAX – The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has sent investigators to Newfoundland to determine what caused a fire aboard a fishing boat that forced the crew to abandon the vessel for a life-raft, leaving them at the mercy of the waves for two days.
The independent agency issued a statement saying its investigators will gather information about what happened aboard the Elite Navigator on July 17 when the fire erupted and the crew of seven was unable to send a distress signal.
The boat was reported missing July 18, having transmitted its final signal the night before from far off the coast of northeastern Newfoundland.
In New-Wes-Valley, N.L., an amalgamation of three small fishing communities, friends and neighbours of the seven men braced for the worst.
After spending about 50 hours adrift in the life-raft about 220 kilometres from shore, the fishermen heard a helicopter overhead and one of them fired a hand-held flare that was spotted by searchers on Friday night.
On Saturday, the men – now known as the “Lucky 7” – returned home to the New-Wes-Valley area, where they were met by a boisterous crowd of about 1,000 people, and a community parade was held the next day.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 22, 2024.
