Maine’s top elected Republican, a lobsterman, survives boat capsize from giant wave ahead of Lee

By DAVID SHARP and PATRICK WHITTLE
PORTLAND, Maine

Maine’s top elected Republican says he’s glad to be alive after a giant wave overturned his lobster boat ahead of the remnants of Hurricane Lee. The Coast Guard had warned mariners at midday Friday that they needed to take immediate action to avoid the onrushing storm. That’s when the huge wave appeared, just as Faulkingham was headed home to harbor after hauling up his traps. The giant wave overturned his boat in cold north Atlantic waters. Faulkingham suffered a black eye, facial fracture and stitched lip. He and a fellow fisherman climb atop the hull of the overturned boat and were rescued before their vessel sank.