Coast Guard Rescues Man Found Clinging To Cooler After Hurricane Milton

October 11, 2024

Today's good news story comes from Miami, Florida.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew from Air Station Miami saved a man clinging to life after Hurricane Milton, approximately 30 miles off Longboat Key.

@USCGSoutheast

The mariner, whose vessel was disabled during the violent storm, was found clutching a cooler and wearing a life jacket at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. The Coast Guard crew airlifted him to Tampa General Hospital, where he is receiving care.

The rescue was the culmination of a harrowing chain of events that began earlier in the week. On Monday, the captain of the fishing vessel Capt. Dave reported engine troubles approximately 20 miles off John's Pass. The Coast Guard quickly responded, rescuing both the captain and a crew member. But after their vessel was left adrift, the captain returned Wednesday morning to make repairs.

The weather, already rough, worsened dramatically as Hurricane Milton approached.

Despite contact with Coast Guard watchstanders, who instructed him to don his life jacket and activate his emergency position indicating radio beacon, communication was lost as the storm intensified. By the time the Coast Guard resumed their search at 5:30 a.m. Thursday, the captain had been battling terrifying conditions overnight.

“This man survived in a nightmare scenario for even the most experienced mariner," said Lt. Cmdr. Dana Grady, Sector St. Petersburg's command center chief.

"To understand the severity of the hurricane conditions, we estimate he experienced approximately 75-90 mph winds, 20-25 foot seas, for an extended period of time to include overnight. He survived because of a life jacket, his emergency position indicating locator beacon, and a cooler."