At 12:50 p.m., an explosion took place sending a column of water into the air alongside "Gulflight's" starboard bow. The ship immediately started to sink and shortly the forward deck was awash. The crew abandoned ship and were taken on board by the patrol ship "Iago" which turned towards St Mary's island. At about 2:30 a.m., Captain Gunter from the "Gulflight" was taken ill and died around 3:40 a.m. from a heart attack. The remainder of the crew arrived at St. Mary at 10 a.m. on 2 May. "Gulflight" did not sink but instead was towed to Crow Bay by patrol vessels.