By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

PATRICIA Rolle said she is “overwhelmed with joy and happiness” that her son and cousin were found alive after being adrift at sea for three days.

Dwayne Deangelo Winder, 23, and Leslie Travis Winder, 25, both of William Dean Senior Highway in Bullocks Harbour, Berry Islands were rescued this morning by a passing sailing boat in waters near Grand Bahama.

The men, who are cousins, left on a fishing trip around 9am on Saturday in a white and grey, 10 to 15-foot vessel with a 25bhp engine. They were last seen in the area of Little Sturrup Cay around 1pm on Saturday.

Police in Great Harbour Cay, Berry Islands along with the Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association, the US Coast Guard and local residents were actively searching for the two fishermen.

Bad weather suspended the search on Monday but the rescue operation resumed early today.

The men were airlifted to a hospital in West Palm Beach, Florida for medical attention but are expected to return to the Berry Islands this week.

Mrs Rolle said the past few days without knowing whether her son and cousin were alive have been “hell on her and her family”.

“He (Mr Winder) has not come back yet, they are still in Florida, recovering but I was able to speak with them,” Mrs Rolle said during a telephone interview with The Tribune.

“Leslie said he was happy to hear from me and was ready to come home and he would be back as soon as he was released. We didn't get an opportunity to talk about the experience because it was a short conversation but it doesn't matter to me.

"All that matters is they are safe. It was not a good feeling not knowing whether they were alive or not or what was going on with them. All I know is they went out conching and that was the last we heard from them. It was so joyous to get that call to say they were safe.”