Four people, including child, rescued by Biloxi charter captain after boat sinks

BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX/Gray News) - Three adults, a child, and a dog were headed out for a day in the water on the Tail Fanning when conditions suddenly worsened, forcing them to evacuate without their gear or lifejackets.

They were headed for the Chandeleur Islands in Mississippi for a fishing trip. That night, thunderstorms slammed the area, suddenly flooding the cabin. Everyone on board was forced to evacuate.

“It happened all so fast,” Justin House, who was aboard the Tail Fanning fishing boat, said. “I mean, we were sleeping, everybody was sleeping, then we had nothing. We didn’t have our life jackets, we didn’t have anything, and it just was really surreal.”

The group swam to the east side of the Chandeleur Islands, exhausted, stranded, and unsure if anyone even knew where they were.

After hours of no hope, a handheld radio washed ashore — and with it, a last lifeline call for help.

Captain T.J. Fountain of the Compass Rose heard the call.

“Instantly, a little bit of anxiety is all I remember at the time, but as far as I remember, I’ve always been taught that you got to lock in, because that split second can make the difference in life and death for someone’s life,” he said.

Despite the dark and rough conditions, the crew found all four survivors and brought them aboard.

Unfortunately, the family’s dog, Roscoe, did not survive the ordeal.

For 8-year-old Sawyer Titus, who was aboard the Tail Fanning boat when it sank, the rescue marked the end of a terrifying ordeal that could have ended much differently.

“Be brave, and God will help you get through the hard things that you’re trying to get through that you’re struggling with,” Sawyer said.

“The sea giveth and the sea taketh, and I’m just grateful that the sea just took the vessel and all our gear; we did lose a dog, you know, but it does it without prejudice,” Justin House, who was aboard the ship, said. “The sea doesn’t care who you are, what color you are, what religion you are, it does its thing. If you get in the way of it, you don’t respect it, things like this can happen.”