Coast Guard Rescues Four Boaters Stranded 26 Miles Off Florida’s West Coast
Four boaters, including a 90-year-old and an 18-year-old, were rescued by the US Coast Guard after their 24-foot sailing vessel capsized 26 miles off the coast of Clearwater, Florida. The rescue effort was launched after the group failed to return from a birthday fishing trip, prompting a massive search operation involving multiple agencies.
The Rescue Effort
The four relatives, including Dennis Woods, 70, Clarence Woods, 90, Cris Harding Sr., 42, and Chris Harding Jr., 18, set out on a celebratory fishing trip from the Seminole Street Boat Ramp in Clearwater at around 9:30 a.m. on Monday. However, when they failed to return by 4 p.m., their family members grew concerned and contacted the Clearwater Police Department, triggering a search effort.
Four boaters remain afloat on their capsized vessel 26 miles off the west coast of Florida, waving to a US Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry plane that located the capsized boat and directed a rescue team to its location.
(US Coast Guard / FOX Weather)
The Capsizing Incident
According to Dennis Woods, the vessel capsized when water filled up on one side of the catamaran, causing the back of the boat to go down low and water to start coming over the back. The incident occurred in less than five minutes, and Woods did not have time to contact the Coast Guard. The priority was to get life jackets on the 90-year-old and the 18-year-old.
A Coast Guard Station Sand Key boat crew rescued the four capsized boaters stranded 26-miles off the coast of Clearwater, Florida in the Gulf of America.
(US Coast Guard / FOX Weather)
Aftermath and Safety Reminder
The four boaters were taken to Morton Hospital for treatment and are in stable condition. Dennis Woods, who captained the vessel, recalled the night at sea as extremely tough, with strong waves. He expressed gratitude for the successful rescue, saying, “It was a good birthday now that I’m back on land.” The US Coast Guard reminds anyone going out on the water to have all necessary safety equipment, including Coast Guard-approved life jackets, VHF radio, signaling devices, and an emergency position locator beacon or personal locator beacon.
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