Back on dry land, three Albertans are grateful for their lives.

Brad James, 32, his son West, 9, and brother Mitchell, 29, were rescued 450 kilometres from their destination in Hawaii at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday after spending more than six hours in their damaged 38-foot vessel.

The trio was sailing from Mexico to Hawaii when they lost power, their mast snapped and engine overheated during conditions described as “extreme” by the U.S. Coast Guard.

All three are from Edmonton, but Brad and his son currently live in Calgary.

From Edmonton, Daniel Butler spoke with his friends a few hours after the rescue.

“Brad was just talking about how happy he was to be alive, and how grateful he was,” said Butler.

A 900-foot Horizon cargo ship was sent to rescue the sailors, but the ship’s size, high seas and strong winds threw them overboard before they were ultimately rescued.

Afterwards, the ship’s captain told Brad rescues during the night in a storm in the middle of the Pacific are “difficult and unlikely,” said Butler.

“I’m just so happy that they’re safe.”