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US News

Coast Guard rescues 3 fishermen fighting off sharks in Gulf of Mexico: Video

By
Yaron Steinbuch
Published Oct. 11, 2022
Updated Oct. 11, 2022, 1:37 p.m. ET

Harrowing video captured three fishermen in a scene straight out of “Jaws” – as they fought off sharks with their bare hands after their boat sank in the Gulf of Mexico.

The men — Phong Le, Son Nguyen and Luan Nguyen – were in the fight of their lives when a US Coast Guard chopper swooped in to save them 25 miles off the coast of Empire, Louisiana, on Sunday, news station WWL-TV reported.

“Rescued just in the nick of time,” the US Coast Guard 8th District Heartland said while sharing the dramatic video of the rescue.

The trio left from Venice, Louisiana, on their 24-foot boat Saturday and began experiencing engine problems about 25 miles off the shore.

“The boat started to take on too much water, so it just sank,” Luan told WWL-TV.

A family member reported them missing later Saturday, sparking a massive search that spanned 1,250 square miles, slightly larger than the state of Rhode Island, officials said.

U.S. Coast guard chopper hovering over water.
The three fishermen went out on a trip but did not return home as scheduled. U.S. Coast Guard Heartland
A life vest being held up.
The U.S. Coast Guard found the fishermen floating about 25 miles out from Empire, Louisiana. Coast Guard Air Station New Orle

When rescue crews reached them the following day, the men were being circled by sharks.

“The head part was in front of me and the shark from just out of nowhere bit the vest,” one of the fishermen, Luan, recounted to the outlet. “So, I pushed the shark and then I tried to push his nose. That didn’t do anything. So, I stuck both of my thumbs and jabbed him in the eyes, and it took off.”

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U.S. Coast Guard prepares for a rescue.
The U.S. Coast Guard sent out a search team in response to calls from worried family members.U.S. Coast Guard Heartland
U.S. Coast Guard boat.
When the fishermen were found, two of them were fighting off circling sharks.U.S. Coast Guard Heartland
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People sitting on U.S. Coast Guard boat.
The fishermen fighting off sharks suffered hand injuries.U.S. Coast Guard Heartland
View from U.S. Coast Guard helicopter.
All three fishermen were hoisted out of the water and brought back to shore.U.S. Coast Guard Heartland
Two people walking off a helicopter pad.
The three fishermen were all luckily reported as in stable condition after being dropped off at a New Orleans hospital.U.S. Coast Guard Heartland
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The Coast Guard pulled all three men from the water, and rushed two of them to the hospital, where they were treated for deep cuts from the sharks.

Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Keefe thanked the public for assistance in the dramatic rescue.

“If the family member had not notified the Coast Guard, and if these three boaters were not wearing life jackets, this could’ve been a completely different outcome,” he said in a statement.

“We appreciate the assistance of the boating public, who were instrumental in helping identify possible areas where these boaters could have been operating before the vessel became in distress,” Keefe added.

Luan said he has no plans of venturing into the ocean again anytime soon.

“That’s the gist of it. My offshore fishing career is over,” he told WWL-TV.