Lobsterman & Lawmaker’s Daring Survival: Capsized Boat Escape in Maine

A Maine lobsterman and lawmaker Billy Bob Faulkingham recently survived an accident neither will ever forget.

As reported by the Kennebec Journal, they narrowly escaped a boat that was hit by a massive wave.

The accident took place as they were on the boats hauling traps in preparation for Hurricane Lee's arrival, according to the KJ.

In a passionate Facebook post, Billy Bob shared the ordeal and talked about the moment when a rogue wave, 40 feet high hit their boat. The wave was so massive that the boat capsized, and Billy Bob was thrown into the water.

Thankfully, both men survived and were clinging onto the upside-down boat for an hour.

First responders were alerted to a distress signal and Billy Bob's cousin, Mikie Faulkingham, was among the first to come to their rescue, as the post states.

Additionally, his boat is named 51 after his cousin Adam who passed away in a car accident when they were teens. Billy Bob has always felt that Adam's been with him, protecting him. He also mentioned that Mikie, who is his cousin, was not going to let another tragedy take place after Mikie's nephew Tyler died lobstering this past summer.

Moments after the rescue, the boat sank beneath the water. The men did sustain injuries but are using those injuries as an important reminder of the risks faced by everyone working in the boating industry.

This experience has left Billy Bob with a deep sense of gratitude for his survival and for the commercial fishing industry as a whole.