The U.S. Coast Guard says a life jacket, emergency position indicating locator beacon and a cooler likely saved the life of a boat captain who rode out Hurricane Milton in the Gulf of Mexico.
READ: Hurricane Milton photos: The impact on the Bay Area Around noon on Wednesday, the USCG said the owner of the Capt.
At the time, the seas were about 6-8 feet and winds were about 30 miles an hour, but conditions were deteriorating as Hurricane Milton approached.
READ: Hurricane Milton aftermath: Severe damage in Hillsborough County, residents rescued from floodwaters Around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, crews found the captain clinging to a cooler wearing a life jacket approximately 30 miles off Longboat Key.
He survived because of a life jacket, his emergency position indicating locator beacon, and a cooler.”
The USA. s. The life jacket, emergency position indicating locator beacon, and cooler, according to the Coast Guard, most likely prevented the death of the boat captain who weathered Hurricane Milton in the Gulf of Mexico.
The USCG claims that the fishing boat’s captain, Capt. Dave reached out to the St. around 12:40 p.m. in the Petersburg area. me. claimed to have been disabled roughly 20 miles off of John’s Pass on Monday along with a crew member.
The two individuals were recovered and returned to Air Station Clearwater in good condition by a crew from the Coast Guard Station Sand Key rescue boat and an Air Station Clearwater rescue helicopter after they located the boat.
The boat was abandoned and plans were underway to recover it.
READ: Pictures from Hurricane Milton and its effects on the Bay Area.
Wednesday at midday, the USCG reported that the Capt. Dave from the fishing boat called to report that, at around three in the morning, the captain went back out to the boat to make repairs. me. and hadn’t made a reservation.
The captain told watchstanders over the radio that a line got caught in the rudder and stopped working while he was returning to port.
The seas were about 6 to 8 feet deep at the time, and the winds were about 30 mph, but things were getting worse as Hurricane Milton got closer.
By indicating a radio beacon, the Coast Guard instructed the captain to wear a life jacket and remain in the emergency position of the boat.
Around 6:45 p.m., the watchstanders reported that they lost contact with the captain. m. as Hurricane Milton approached the coast on Wednesday.
READ: Hillsborough County suffers severe damage following Hurricane Milton, and residents are rescued from floodwaters.
About 1:30 p.m. m. About thirty miles off Longboat Key, crews discovered the captain clinging to a cooler while donning a life jacket on Thursday.
To receive additional care, he was brought to Tampa General Hospital.
“Even the most seasoned mariner would have had a terrible time surviving in this situation,” Lt. Commander. Dana Grady, St. Petersburg’s chief of the command center. “We estimate that he experienced winds of between 75 and 90 mph, seas of 20 to 25 feet, and strong winds for a prolonged period of time, including overnight, in order to gauge the severity of the hurricane conditions. He was able to survive thanks to a cooler, a life jacket, and an emergency position indicator beacon. “. .
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