A Massachusetts family faced a tragic ordeal when their boat caught fire, leading to the death of a beloved family member. Cynthia Sullivan, who bravely swam to a nearby island for safety after the incident, sadly passed away on Thursday from her injuries. The news was shared by her son, who explained that the fire had erupted off Cape Cod on Monday, forcing Cynthia, her husband Pat, and their son Tyler to swim ashore for their lives.

In a heartfelt Facebook post, her other son Chris informed friends and loved ones: “To everyone who loves and cares for my family, I wanted to give an update. My mom passed last night.” He added that his mother found peace in her final moments while listening to John Mellencamp, her favorite musician. Chris also mentioned that Pat, his father, was recovering, breathing independently, and praised Tyler as a “hero” for his efforts in saving their parents amidst the chaos.

Remembering his mother as “the best grandmother,” Chris expressed the depth of his sorrow, stating, “This hurts more than anything I could have ever imagined.” The Sullivan family had no choice but to abandon their 30-foot boat, The Third Wave, when it unexpectedly caught fire during the night. According to a GoFundMe page set up by the family, the East Falmouth residents were jolted awake by their dogs barking and the alarming sounds of fireworks, followed by smoke rapidly filling the vessel.

The blaze forced the Sullivans to jump into the water and make a hasty escape to Naushon Island, about four miles from Martha’s Vineyard. They took shelter in a barn until Tyler found that his family boat’s radio had washed ashore Wednesday morning. He used that to make a Mayday call, the US Coast Guard said , which took rescuers to Naushon Island.

‘Mayday, mayday, mayday, mayday, mayday, mayday,’ Tyler was heard saying in the call published by Fox News . ‘Our ship went down at Tarpaulin Cove. Our ship burned while we were sleeping and we barely escaped.’ He continued: ‘I’m in the farmhouse on Tarpaulin Cove. Right by the freakin’… the lighthouse. Yes, the vessel has sunk and we are on the farmhouse in the hill.’

Naushon Island is a seven-mile-long island off the tip of East Falmouth, Massachusetts, owned by the Forbes family. The vessel had been reported missing by a ‘concerned family member,’ the US Coast Guard added. A search had taken place throughout Tuesday night and Wednesday morning after calls to the Sullivans went unanswered and cell phone pings failed to provide an accurate location.

A Coast Guard helicopter found the family Wednesday morning and airlifted them to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, Massachusetts. The Sullivan family said Cynthia had ‘passed away from her injuries’ on October 23. Chris said: ‘My mom fought as long and hard as she could. It was her time is all. I miss her more than words can describe.’

Pat was later transferred to Brigham and Women’s Hospital Burn Center, where he was now awake and breathing on his own, WPRI reported. Tyler was still hospitalized and being treated for smoke inhalation and third-degree burns. The Sullivans originally planned to stay between Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard during the weekend and return home Tuesday afternoon.