A fisherman recounted his final call with Gus Sanfilippo, captain of the Lily Jean, which took place just hours before the boat sank off the coast of Gloucester, Mass.
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) received an emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) alert in regard to the 72-foot fishing vessel on Friday, Jan. 30, according to a USCG news release. While the agency attempted to contact the vessel, a lack of response prompted the issuance of an urgent marine information broadcast.
Seven people were reported to be onboard the vessel. One unresponsive body and an unoccupied life raft associated with the vessel were found, according to the USCG.
Captain Sebastian Noto, a friend of Lily Jean’s captain, told NBC10 Boston that he spoke with Sanfilippo just hours before tragedy struck.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2):format(webp)/Fishing-boat-sinks-off-Gloucester373-013026-5cabfca335dd4ddc82cf98ed886ca08e.jpg)
Gloucester Fisherman’s Memorial in Gloucester, Mass.AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty
“I was about 30 miles east of him,” he told the outlet. “We usually work together all the time. We are like glue man. We give a lot of information back-and-forth.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
On the day that the Lily Jean sank, Noto recalled talking to Sanfilippo around 3 a.m. and hearing him say, “I quit. It’s too cold.”
“He was calm,” he added of the ship’s captain. “He just couldn’t do the cold because the air holes was freezing.”
When he realized that there was no sign of his friend several hours later, Noto quickly realized that they were looking at a “serious situation.” And if he were to guess what led to the tragic incident, he suspected it could have been a result of the bilge pump malfunctioning.
“Just a guess, I could be wrong you know because even if the bilge is taking water, you got plenty of time to call Mayday,” he noted. “You got plenty of time to get into the survival suit, life raft. The boat takes time to sink.”
Although six people from the ship remain missing, the USCG announced on Jan. 31 that, after covering “approximately 1,047 square miles over 24 hours using multiple aircraft, cutter and small boats,” all reasonable efforts had been exhausted and the search would be suspended.
“The decision to suspend the search was incredibly difficult,” Capt. Jamie Frederick, commander of Coast Guard Sector Boston, wrote in a press release. “Our thoughts and prayers are with all the family members and friends of the lost crew of the Lilly Jean, and with the entire Gloucester community during this heartbreaking time.”
News
James Handy’s Alleged Killer Revealed — The Shocking Family Connection Has Everyone Talking
James Handy, the actor best known for starring in Top Gun: Maverick and Jumanji, was fatally stabbed by his girlfriend’s son, investigators with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) have alleged. PEOPLE previously reported that at around 9:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday, June 3, Handy, 81, was found suffering from a stab wound to the chest in the front yard […]
James Handy, the actor best known for starring in Top Gun: Maverick and Jumanji, was fatally stabbed by his girlfriend’s son, investigators with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) have alleged. PEOPLE previously reported that at around 9:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday, June 3, Handy, 81, was found suffering from a stab wound to the chest in the front yard of his home in Tarzana, Calif., per a news release from the LAPD. He succumbed to his injuries after being transported to a local hospital. Michael Gledhill has since been arrested and charged with one count of murder, according to jail records obtained by PEOPLE. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. James Handy in Top Gun: Maverick (2022) James Handy in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’. Paramount According to the LAPD’s news release, Gledhill, 44, called 911 to report the stabbing in the 19200 block of Erwin Street. “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin,” he allegedly told dispatch. James Handy in ‘Jumanji’ James Handy in ‘Jumanji’. Netflix RELATED STORIES When Rachel Nickell Was Killed in Broad Daylight, Her Toddler Son Was the Only Witness. Here’s What Happened Next Rachel Nickell and her son Alex Hanscombe; Robert Napper. Mom of 2 Was Pregnant with Twins When She Was Killed. Her Boyfriend Just Admitted to Pulling the Trigger BreAnna Johnson, Darryl Tyson Jr. Authorities claim that Gledhill lived at the residence alongside his mom, who was in a romantic relationship with Handy. According to police, when officers arrived at the scene, Gledhill flagged them down and allegedly told them “he was the one they were looking for.” James Handy stabbed to death Scene of the fatal stabbing in Tarzana, L.A. 6abc Philadelphia He was then transported to Van Nuys Jail, where he is being held on a $2 million bond, according to jail records viewed by PEOPLE. No motive for the fatal stabbing of Handy has been disclosed publicly at this time. The New York-born actor appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows, including The X-Files, Law & Order, NYPD Blue, NCIS: Los Angeles and Criminal Minds. He made his final onscreen appearance in Top Gun: Maverick in 2022. Detectives believe his death was an “isolated incident and there appears to be no danger to the public at this time,” according to the LAPD’s news release. Neighbors have alleged to Fox 11 that they overheard Gledhill and Handy arguing overnight before the fatal stabbing. One neighbor told the local TV station that Gledhill appeared to suffer from delusions.
James Handy, the actor best known for starring in Top Gun: Maverick and Jumanji, was fatally stabbed by his girlfriend’s son, investigators with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) have alleged. PEOPLE previously reported that at around 9:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday, June 3, Handy, 81, was found suffering from a stab wound to the chest in the front yard […]
Hollywood Reeling After Bombshell Revelation in James Handy Murder Case
Jumanji, was fatally stabbed by his girlfriend’s son, investigators with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) have alleged. PEOPLE previously reported that at around 9:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday, June 3, Handy, 81, was found suffering from a stab wound to the chest in the front yard of his home in Tarzana, Calif., per a news release […]
Shocking Twist: James Handy’s Alleged Killer Identified — The Connection Has Everyone Stunned
Jumanji, was fatally stabbed by his girlfriend’s son, investigators with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) have alleged. PEOPLE previously reported that at around 9:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday, June 3, Handy, 81, was found suffering from a stab wound to the chest in the front yard of his home in Tarzana, Calif., per a news release […]
The 911 Call That Changed Everything: James Handy Case Leaves Fans Speechless
James Handy, an actor with appearances in “Jumanji,” “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Taps,” was brutally murdered by his girlfriend’s son, police said. Authorities raced to the 19200 block of Erwin Street in Tarzana Wednesday morning after a caller stated, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.” When they arrived, cops discovered […]
BREAKING: Hollywood is in shock after authorities revealed heartbreaking new details in the death of Top Gun: Maverick actor James Handy
James Handy, an actor with appearances in “Jumanji,” “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Taps,” was brutally murdered by his girlfriend’s son, police said. Authorities raced to the 19200 block of Erwin Street in Tarzana Wednesday morning after a caller stated, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.” When they arrived, cops discovered […]
End of content
No more pages to load
