Operation Repair Scott’s Boat, the Miss Grace!

Earlier this week our close family friend and soul brother, Scott Thompson, was heading out to work the Channel Islands and dive for some urchins, his livelihood. Once across the channel he realized the weather wasn’t favorable and he decided to turn back towards home. Not long after turning around, Scott was standing close to the edge of his boat, when it was knocked by some water chop which caused him to misstep and ultimately fall into the ocean. He attempted to swim towards his boat but she was puttering away faster than he could swim and he quickly realized he wouldn’t be able to catch up. He had been stranded in the Pacific Ocean, destitute and wearing only shorts and T-shirt, with nothing else.

 

I can’t imagine how terrifying and lonely Scott must have felt in that moment, and even though he must have had some doubts, they were fleeting and he resolved to make a go of it. He focused on his wife, Tricia, their two young daughters, Grace (5) and Lily (8 months) and their adult son Jacob, and he started swimming. He could see some oil platforms way off in the distance and decided to head in that direction. They estimate he swam for approximately 5 hours, until he reached and hauled himself up onto what turned out to be oil platform Gail. It took everything he had. He finally managed to grab hold of a ladder and forced himself up and onto it and ultimately up to safety. The crew took it from there and got Scott the medical attention he desperately needed at that point. They thawed him out and warmed him up. Scott made it. He is a legend as far as we’re concerned. It’s truly a miracle that he was able to survive all of the elements and the cold Pacific Ocean for that many hours.

 

Amazingly, he is going to be just fine. He spent the night in the hospital for observation and to assess his condition; he had hypothermia, rhabdomyolysis, he was dehydrated and he is covered in cuts, slices and bruises he received from the barnacles and mussels that covered the oil platform he was clinging to until he was able to grab onto his ascending escape ladder. He’s currently home with his family, sore, exhausted, humbled and grateful...and just so happy to be alive.

 

Thankfully they quickly located his boat, the F/V Miss Grace, on a rocky beach on the front side of Anacapa. She was still in one piece but took some serious damage and will need repair before he’s able to take her back out to work. I’ve created this account to help him cover the expense of the boat recovery and to assist their family with the cost of repairs and replacing the outboard gear that was sheared off. It will also help to offset all of the work he’ll be missing out on while Miss Grace is brought back to all her glory. Any contributions will also help to offset his medical bills.

 

So please, if you’re able to contribute any amount, it would be so appreciated. Also if you’re able to share this page, it would be a huge help. You can also donate directly to Scott’s Venmo account @Scott-Thompson-374 (if Venmo asks for the last 4 digits of his phone number they are 3474. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, from all of our hearts. I love this family so much and am deeply grateful that this story has the happy ending that it does. Much love!