A sailor from Florida has confessed he told his dog “this isn’t the day we’re going to die” after his boat started sinking in the Gulf of Mexico during Hurricane Helene.
Earl Barcome and his 10-year-old Golden Retriever Gunn were rescued on Thursday when his 36-foot sailboat named Selkie - which he has lived on for a year since his relationship of over 30 years ended - got into trouble in the terrifying conditions. Family member Shirley Barcome confirmed on a GoFundMe page that Earl, 64, had spent months finding the “perfect boat” before he set sail for Florida to “start a new chapter.”
She added that the boat was “the culmination of a lifelong dream, offering him solace and purpose after a difficult chapter in his life." Earl and Gunn had been on the water for a year and had experienced “peace and healing” before encountering Helene.
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Earl had been attempting to navigate away from the devastating effects of Helene by heading 100 miles south of Sanibel Island to a protected inlet, but half-way through his journey his boat's motor failed. After the bilge pump blew the vessel began taking on water and Earl found himself standing in chest-high water in the cabin.
Speaking to WBBH Earl explained: “It was moving mountains of water. Every which way you turn. And these waves were just everywhere you look.” He then added how he turned to Gunn as he vowed they were going to survive.
He said: “I said, Gunn, this isn’t the day we’re going to die I’m calling the Coast Guard.” After receiving Earl's radio cry for help the Coast Guard sent a helicopter to his location 25 miles west of Sanibel Island. Rescuers from the USCG Air Station Clearwater’s post spotted his boat at around 3 pm on September 26.
Earl and Gunn's rescue was caught on camera by the Coast Guard as a diver dropped down into the waters while Earl and Gunn escaped the vessel by jumping into the water wearing life vests. Earl said: “He falls into the water and just power swims to my boat. And he’s like, ‘I need you guys in the water now.'”
Both Earl and Gunn were then brought to safety inside the helicopter as he abandoned his sinking boat. Shirley added on the fundraiser : “Earl has lost everything. With no funds and his dream shattered, rebuilding from this tragedy feels impossible without help.”
Earl meanwhile has revealed his new outlook after losing everything in the traumatic ordeal. He said: “So what, what comes next? time will tell, you know, do I have hope? I have, I have a new, I have a new understanding. And that’s a beautiful thing.”
“The realization that life is a little more important was, That was a new day. It was a new day. And, what do I got to complain about? I got a shirt and pants.”
Hurricane Helene killed at least 64 people and had devastating effects ranging from Florida to the Great Lakes after making landfall in The Sunshine State’s Big Bend Area on Thursday night as a Category 4 storm.
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