Newly released video shows the U.S. Coast Guard rescuing a man clinging to a cooler after Hurricane Milton on Thursday, with authorities calling the incident a “nightmare scenario.” There is.
Video showed the man floating in the ocean about 30 miles off Longboat Key, and authorities rescued him by helicopter that afternoon.
A search operation was launched that morning from air bases in Clearwater and Miami. The man was the captain of the fishing boat Captain Dave.
The man was taken to Tampa General Hospital for treatment, according to a U.S. Coast Guard press release.
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Watch as the Coast Guard rescues a captain off the coast of Florida
The coast guard rescued the captain a few days ago.
Earlier this week, on Monday, the ship’s captain told Coast Guard observers that he and one of his crew members became “encumbered” about 20 miles off John’s Pass. The two were rescued by a helicopter crew and taken to an air base.
According to a press release, the boat “was left adrift and arrangements were to be made to salvage it.”
Two days later, the ship’s owner notified the Coast Guard that the captain had gone to repair the ship and had not returned, officials said.
“Observers were able to make radio contact with the ship’s captain, who reported that the rudder became stuck on a line while returning to port,” the press release states.
Authorities ordered the captain to don a life jacket and “remain in the ship’s emergency position indicating a radio beacon.” They lost contact with him just before 7 p.m. Wednesday.
It was discovered Thursday around 1:30 p.m. Head of the command center of the St. Petersburg sector, Lieutenant Colonel. Dana Grady said the cooler is what keeps her alive.
“This man survived a nightmare scenario for even the most experienced sailor,” Grady said in a statement, adding, “To understand the severity of the hurricane situation, he spent a year traveling from 75 mph to 75 mph. “We estimate we experienced 90 mph winds and 60 to 25 foot seas.” For extended periods of time, including overnight. He survived thanks to a life jacket, a positioning beacon that indicated his emergency location, and a cooler. ”
Taylor Eardley is a news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact me at tardrey@gannett.com.
