THREE BARBADIAN FISHERMEN ware safe and sound after making a two-hour swim to shore.
The boat in which Livingston Clarke of St Judes, St George; his brother Leslie; and the owner of the boat John Mason, were travelling, sank off the Hilton Hotel on Tuesday night.
According to Livingston, they were returning to Bridgetown from Oistins, Christ Church, around 7 p.m. after selling their catch of 60 flying fish.
During their cruise back to Bridgetown after an entire day at sea, they heard a loud thud under the boat and it was just a matter of time before the boat started to take in water.
Livingston said he and his brother tried to bale the boat with two saucepans; but realising the water was coming very quickly suggested to 54-year-old Mason, who was sitting on the stern of the boat, to jump off and swim ashore.
The two brothers remained, desperately trying to ride the boat of the water but to no avail, and finally the boat sank.
Livingston said the boat went down about 8 p.m. and left them to make the approximate two-hour swim back to shore.
Tired and cold on reaching shore, they tried locating Mason by shouting his name but got no response.
It was at this stage they decided to make their way to the man road over some jagged rocks.
After reaching Hastings Main Road, they came upon a police car with four policemen who took them to Hastings Police Station. They reached the station at about 11:35 p.m. and reported the matter.
They were taken to Bridgetown in a police van, still wondering about the whereabouts of their friend and companion Mason.
Livingston said they went to look for Mason at his home, but he realised afterwards that at the same time they were searching, Mason was checking for them at the Harbour Police Station.
