The Lucky Seven: The Story of the Elite Navigator

by Gary Collins

In July 2024, the Elite Navigator fishing boat and its crew seemed to vanish one night after fishing for turbot for several days at sea. The craft was reported missing after transmitting its final signal at around 8:30 p.m. the night before, according to the Canadian Coast Guard. The vessel had caught fire, forcing the crew to abandon the ship and wait for rescue on the life raft.

In New-Wes-Valley, which is an amalgamation of three small fishing communities along Newfoundland’s northeast coast, friends and family braced for the worst. But on July 19, Friday night, out on the ocean, searchers saw a light from a flare. It brought them to a life raft, where the seven fishermen—who people now call the Lucky Seven—were waiting.

This is the true story of a dramatic rescue at sea that took place after all hope had been lost. Award-winning author Gary Collins recounts the heroic efforts of the men and women on land, at sea, and in the air which led to a miracle, one which grabbed national headlines in the summer of 2024.

229 pages, Paperback

Published May 9, 2025

Reviews

[Peter B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely an interesting piece of non-fiction and Collins did a lot of work to get the story straight.