NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — September 30, 2013 — Thousands congregated on the city docks Saturday afternoon for the Working Waterfront Festival, getting a taste of the city's seafood and the death-defying efforts to bring it to shore.
New Bedford fisherman Phil Ashworth sat with a bare prosthetic leg and an American flag bandana around his forehead, featured at a music and poetry event titled Storms & Close Calls.
"God, we could tell stories for hours," Ashworth said, grinning and flashing a gold tooth beside three fellow fishermen and a fisherman's daughter.
Ashworth's smile went away as he told of going overboard and nearly being killed by the vessel he was sailing on.
"The boat laid its starboard shoulder in just a little too deep," he said. "A wave broke on deck and took me right overboard "» Here comes the rail. The rail disappeared under the water, and the next wave slammed me back onto the deck so hard I was barely able to stay conscious."
Over New Bedford's long seafaring history, others haven't been as lucky.
"I should not be sitting here today," he said. "It's all by the grace of God, I believe."