[Doohickey]

Here's an even more coherent story: http://www.wvec.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D8MAMIPG2.html

Sounds like all four were using deck crawlers, but were they wearing kapoks?

[OCCASparky]

Sounds like all four were using deck crawlers, but were they wearing kapoks?

Kapoks are long gone. Even on my last boat (almost 10 years ago) they were being phased out for what looked like camo/OD flak jackets with pouches which inflated when you hit the water.

My guess (and only a guess obviously) is that these guys got swept over and either held under long enough to inhale some seawater or beaten against the hull hard enough to break vital stuff or knock them out cold.