Trapped in Hurricane Helene in the Gulf of Mexico, a sailor and his devoted dog were on the brink of disaster. The 64-year-old American, Earl Barcome, and his 10-year-old Golden Retriever, Gun, braved the choppy waters in their 11-meter sailing boat, the Selkie. In North America, the catastrophic hurricane left millions without electricity and took at least 100 deaths.
After ending a thirty-year romance, Earl and Gun had been living on the yacht for a year. In order to start over in Florida, Earl had spent months looking for the ideal yacht, according to his sister Shirley, who set up a GoFundMe campaign.
Shirley stated that Earl's sailing ship was more than just a place to live; it was a dream that had brought him solace and purpose during a trying period.
Barcome had intended to travel to a safe harbor as Hurricane Helene neared, but the boat's engine died midway there. Earl remembered that there was water everywhere and enormous waves everywhere. Now that the water inside the cabin was breast deep, he made the decision to comfort his four-legged friend by assuring him that they would not perish today.
Barcome was so desperate that he used the boat's radio to call the Coast Guard. His location was approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of Sanibel Island, Florida, and a chopper was sent to investigate.
On Thursday, September 26, at around 3:00 pm, rescuers from USCG Air Station Clearwater arrived.
The spectacular rescue, which saw Earl and Gun jump into the turbulent waves while wearing life jackets as their boat sank, is recorded on camera by the Coast Guard.