Coast Guard Saves 3 After 9-Hour Sea Ordeal

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Coast Guard teams swiftly came to the aid of three individuals after their vessel capsized near Captiva Island, Florida, leaving them stranded in the waters for an exhausting nine hours.

Concerns were raised early Sunday morning when a family member reported not having heard from the trio since 8 p.m. Saturday evening. Responding to these concerns, the Coast Guard launched a helicopter aircrew from Clearwater, which eventually located the individuals perched atop the overturned boat around 6 a.m. A rescue team dispatched from Fort Myers Beach quickly responded and successfully brought the boaters to safety, subsequently sending them for a medical evaluation at HealthPark Medical Center in Fort Myers.

Remarkably, the three individuals involved reported no health issues from their hours adrift at sea, according to a Coast Guard release. The reasons behind the boat’s capsizing remain unknown at this time.

Chief Warrant Officer Dennise Werre of the Coast Guard Sector in St. Petersburg emphasized the necessity of having a “float plan” when planning to venture out to sea. This plan, which is shared with someone not joining the trip, should detail the intended route, the number of passengers, and the safety equipment on board.

“Our ability to locate and rescue the three boaters was a direct result of the effective coordination between the Coast Guard, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and the deployment of vital search tools,” stated Werre.