Cruise ship rescues Caribbean nationals

FLORIDA, CMC - A Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based cruise ship has rescued six Caribbean nationals off the coast of the Bahamas after their fishing vessel caught fire and sunk Monday night.



The director for the Discovery Sun, Samantha Poole, said the four men and two women had been clinging to floating debris for more than an hour before they were rescued. They were not wearing life vests.



Poole said those rescued are from Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba and that they had received medical treatment while the Discovery Sun waited for US officials to arrive.



“All incidents, such as these, are reported to the US Coast Guard, and all will be inspected by US immigration also. After that, we really don't know what will happen, but we will assist them and return them to Grand Bahama Island,” she added.



The US Coast Guard confirmed Monday night that it had sent a ship to the Discovery Sun to retrieve the six rescued passengers.



Poole said that the fishing vessel had burst into flames and that some of the rescued passengers had suffered second degree burns.