“The screams still echo in his ears… 😱💔

The ONLY witness to the final, terrifying moments of the Lily Jean heard Captain Gus Sanfilippo and his crew desperately crying for help as massive freezing waves swallowed their boat whole.

He was close enough to hear the gut-wrenching pleas cutting through the storm… but too far away to reach them in time. In those agonizing seconds, he captured what may be their last cries on film — the haunting audio that has left everyone who hears it in tears.

No mayday call. No chance to escape the icy Atlantic. Just raw, heartbreaking screams as the Gloucester legend and his six crewmates fought for their lives.

What did he really see and record? The video that’s too disturbing for most to watch… but the truth behind this tragedy is even worse.

Click to hear the full chilling account — you won’t sleep after this. 👇”

As the U.S. Coast Guard continues its formal investigation into the January 30, 2026, sinking of the 72-foot commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean off Cape Ann, new details have surfaced about the vessel’s final moments, including a chilling account from the only reported witness who claims to have heard the crew’s desperate cries for help amid the chaos of capsizing waves.

The witness, whose identity has not been publicly released by authorities, was positioned in the vicinity but too distant to render assistance during the rapid sinking. Reports indicate the individual managed to record portions of the event, including what have been described as the agonizing screams of Captain Accursio “Gus” Sanfilippo and the six other crew members as the boat went down in freezing Atlantic conditions. No video or audio has been officially released by investigators, and its existence remains unconfirmed by the Coast Guard, though community discussions and local media have referenced the account as adding a layer of profound tragedy to an already devastating loss.

The Lily Jean activated its emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at approximately 6:50 a.m. on January 30, about 25 miles offshore. Notably, no Mayday distress call was transmitted by voice from the vessel, leaving rescuers to rely solely on the automated beacon. Coast Guard crews from air and surface units responded swiftly but encountered severe weather, including rough seas and sub-freezing temperatures that complicated efforts. Search operations covered over 1,000 square miles before being suspended on January 31, with officials citing the extreme conditions, time elapsed since the incident, and lack of additional signals as factors in the decision.

One unresponsive individual was recovered from the water — later confirmed as deceased — along with debris consistent with the Lily Jean and an unoccupied life raft that had been deployed. The remaining six crew members were never located, and all seven were formally declared lost. The Coast Guard’s Northeast District, under Rear Adm. Michael Platt, has opened a district-level investigation to determine the cause, with early speculation pointing to possible equipment failure, heavy icing from sea spray, or a sudden rogue wave contributing to the capsizing while the boat was heavily laden and returning to port.

Captain Sanfilippo, a fifth-generation Gloucester fisherman and a familiar face from the 2012 History Channel series “Nor’Easter Men,” was well-regarded in the tight-knit community. Fellow fisherman Sebastian Noto, who was approximately 30 miles east of the Lily Jean at the time, recounted a phone conversation with Sanfilippo around 3 a.m. that morning. According to Noto’s statements to NBC Boston and other outlets, the captain expressed frustration with the extreme cold, saying, “I quit. It’s too cold,” and noting that air holes on the vessel were freezing over. Noto described Sanfilippo as calm during the call but clearly affected by the harsh conditions typical of winter fishing in the Northeast.

The witness account of hearing screams has circulated in local reports and social media, amplifying the emotional impact on Gloucester residents. Sources close to the investigation have not corroborated the recording publicly, and maritime experts note that in such rapid sinkings — especially without a voice distress call — any audio evidence would be scrutinized for context, including distance, wind interference, and wave noise. The frigid water temperatures, reported around 12 degrees Fahrenheit in some accounts (with wind chills pushing lower), would have made survival without immersion suits extremely unlikely beyond minutes.

The victims included:

Accursio “Gus” Sanfilippo, the captain and owner, remembered as a mentor who “taught me everything I know now about fishing,” according to one friend quoted by Boston 25 News.
Paul Beal Sr. and Paul Beal Jr., a father-and-son duo whose loss has been described by family as particularly devastating since “at least they were together.”
John Rousanidis, 33.
Freeman Short, 31.
Sean Therrien.
Jada Samitt, 22, the NOAA fisheries observer from Virginia on her first major assignment at sea, whose family previously released a statement praising her bravery and dedication.

Community response has been swift and supportive. A vigil at St. Ann’s Church drew hundreds, with mourners placing flowers and cards at the Gloucester Fisherman’s Memorial. State Sen. Bruce Tarr, who knew Sanfilippo personally, spoke of the captain’s deep roots in the harbor. Family members shared memories of the crew’s hard work and the inherent risks of their profession.

Vito Giacalone of the Northeast Seafood Coalition addressed questions about why the vessel ventured out in challenging weather, comparing fishermen to other essential workers who face daily hazards. “Why do the electric company folks go up? That’s what fishermen have every day especially in the winter,” he said.

NOAA Fisheries paused observer deployments temporarily in the wake of the incident due to forecasted severe conditions. Donations continue through Fishing Partnership Support Services, specifically earmarked for the Lily Jean families.

The sinking underscores the persistent dangers of commercial fishing, long ranked among America’s most hazardous occupations by federal statistics. Gloucester, known as America’s oldest seaport, has a centuries-long history of such losses, etched into its memorials and folklore. Yet each tragedy renews calls for improved safety measures, better vessel monitoring, and recognition of the human cost behind the seafood on tables nationwide.

As investigators comb through debris, weather data, and any potential witness recordings, the focus remains on providing answers to grieving families. For now, the reported screams — whether captured on film or echoing only in memory — serve as a stark reminder of the final, helpless struggle against the sea that claimed seven lives in pursuit of their livelihood.

The Coast Guard has emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and urged against speculation. No timeline for conclusions has been provided, but officials have committed to a thorough review to prevent future incidents in one of the nation’s most storied — and perilous — industries.