Fisherman Rescued After Falling Overboard Off Provincetown

PROVINCETOWN (CBS) – A fisherman nearly drowned Saturday morning off the coast of Provincetown after he fell overboard entangled in gear.

The Coast Guard was called to assist scallop boat "Glutton" just after 7 a.m. The boat was two nautical miles off of Highland Light near Provincetown.

"We don't know how, but he was able to free himself from the gear and resurface on his own," said Coast Guard Petty Officer David Farmer.

The scalloper was submerged and tangled in gear. Crew members were able to pull him back on board.

A Coast Guard boat with an EMT from the Provincetown Fire Department on board was launched and arrived about an hour later. The Coast Guard also sent a helicopter to the boat.

"The 47 got on scene with the fishing boat. They transferred the medical personnel onto the boat to check out the crew member and all that time they were moving back toward Provincetown," Farmer said. "When the helicopter got on scene, that's when we hoisted the crew member from our boat and took them to Cape Cod Hospital."

The 24-year-old fisherman was conscious and alert.

"This situation turned out very well," Farmer said. "It could have been a lot worse and we're just thankful that everything turned out well."