Dear Editor,
A special thanks to Saba people who all helped us three weeks ago Saturday, the 11th. I would like to say a very very thanks to him and his wife for helping us – Nicky Johnson leaving his table from eating to come and help us out at sea that day.
When I opened the engine room door and see it full up with water I almost lose it. When I looked around to see if land was close by or in sight and I didn’t see land I knew we was into problems so I ran to the VHF radio and made that frantic emergency call for help right away and give my position of where we were so if there was any boat nearby they would hear where we were so that they can come to help us too.
But there was no one close by on the area so help had to come from shore and it was Nicky Johnson who came to help us at sea and in the meantime I was bailing water out of the boat to keep us afloat until help got to us.
In the meantime I was bailing water out of the engine room and many things went throughout my mind, what will happen to us if help does not get to us on time? It was a bad feeling that came over me that day out at sea. I had a bad feeling that whole day that something bad was going to happen.
Anyway I did what I had to do in the engine room fixing the bilge pump that nearly took our lives and the boat’s life too. I did not know that we had passed Nicky out fishing because I was in the engine room. It was long after I knew that we had passed him 21 miles from shore, fishing, hauling his fish traps. I did not know that the same boat would be the boat to come and help us. It was a nice feeling to see someone close to you – that if something had to happen we would be safe.
Thank God for him coming back out to sea the second time to help us. When we got to shore he told me Bullo when he see the boat when it pass him he say to the rest of the guys on his boat, he turn and say to them he had a bad feeling that something is going to happen to the boat, nevertheless he went back to shore and while at home sitting eating he hear the call; he say to his wife: “My God that’s Bullo voice!” He say his wife never hear me like that. He say something is really wrong when he hear my voice like that.
So he came to the radio and answered it. I told him what was going on, on board, so he say “Okay Bulla I on my way.” It was very nice to hear that! You know I used to save people’s lives and their boats but never know I would have saved my own life and others on board the boat.
It was very hard for me to write this letter. I cry so much doing this. I will never forget this, my friend out at sea – sitting and watching the sun setting and dark setting in. God bless you Nicky Johnson and to the rest of the people who help and anyway God bless you all Sabans.
A special thanks to Nicky Johnson, Governor Johnson, Brandon Hassell, my girlfriend Marilynn Hassell, Luke Rolly, Bruce B, Roy and the man at the hotel and to Pualla and the lady who give me the cup of tea – thanks. Thanks to the rest of the office who helped. Thank you all.
Love you Saba.
Alex Velasquez and Captain and crew
