A 59-year-old boater was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard on Tuesday morning after his vessel sank off the coast of Molokai.
The man issued a mayday call around 5:40 a.m., reporting that his vessel, Hana Hou, was taking on water near Ilio Point on the island’s east side.
Roughly three hours later, a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew located the man in the water about two miles offshore.
He was found clinging to a bait box and was hoisted to safety. He was not injured.
Officials said the man’s use of a VHF marine radio played a critical role in his rescue.
“This is a great example of why it’s so important for mariners to have and know how to use proper communication equipment,” the Coast Guard said in a statement.
The boat sank in the Kaiwi Channel. No further information was immediately available.