Coast Guard saves man clinging to cooler 30 miles off Florida coast as Milton approached
Ahead of Milton’s arrival this week, the US Coast Guard twice helped a Florida boater, who was found clinging to a cooler in the Gulf waters the second time he was rescued, video shows.
On Monday around noon, the captain of a fishing vessel named Capt. Dave, reported to Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders that he and a crew member were disabled approximately 20 miles off John’s Pass near St. Petersburg, Florida, along the Gulf Coast, according to a USCG news release.
A Coast Guard rescue boat crew and a rescue helicopter crew arrived to help the two people, who were airlifted back to Air Station Clearwater in good condition, the release said.
“The vessel was left adrift and salvage arrangements were to be made,” the release states.
On Wednesday afternoon, the boat’s owner reported to the Coast Guard that the captain went out to make repairs to the boat at around 3 a.m. and had not checked in.
“Watchstanders were able to make radio contact with the captain who reported the rudder was fouled with a line and became disabled during his transit back to port,” according to the Coast Guard’s release.
“The weather at the time was 6-8 foot seas, and approximately 30 mph winds but quickly deteriorating as (Milton) approached,” the release states.
The Coast Guard instructed the captain to wear a life jacket and stay with the vessel’s emergency position.
“Watchstanders lost communications at approximately 6:45 p.m, Wednesday evening,” the release states.
A Coast Guard Air Station Miami helicopter was launched at 5:30 a.m. ET Thursday. The captain was recovered at 1:30 p.m. about 30 miles off Longboat Key, clinging to a cooler and wearing a life vest. He was flown to Tampa General Hospital.