Hurricane Debby Nightmare in Florida: 2 Adrift Boaters Rescued From Gulf Of Mexico!
Two boaters faced a terrifying battle for survival as Hurricane Debby’s fury closed in—rescued just in time by the U.S. Coast Guard heroes! 🌐 #News #Florida #ClearwaterFL #HurricaneDebby
CLEARWATER, FL – Two boaters lost their sail in the Gulf of Mexico as Hurricane Debby approached Florida over the weekend, and were adrift in 15- to 20-foot seas until they were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard on Sunday.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg received a call at around 5 p.m. Saturday from a friend of the boaters, who reported they had missed their check-in while sailing from Key West to Tarpon Springs aboard a 34-foot sailboat.
At the time, Debby was a tropical storm in the process of strengthening to a Category 1 hurricane. The boaters lost their sail about 73 miles offshore Boca Grande, which is just north of Cape Coral on the southwest coast of Florida.
A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Hurricane Hunters WP-3D Orion aircrew and an Air Force 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron WC-130J Hercules aircrew assisted the Coast Guard in the search for the adrift boaters.
An Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane rescue crew located the disabled vessel with both boaters aboard at around 11 a.m. Sunday. An Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter rescue crew was called in to hoist the boaters and transport them to Air Station Clearwater.
“Some of the most important factors in any search and rescue case is accurate information and safety equipment,” Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Hooper, a search and rescue mission coordinator at Coast Guard District Seven, said in a statement.
“We received an updated satellite position from the boaters’ friend, which led to them being successfully located. This rescue was a collaborative effort between District Seven and Sector St. Petersburg while Tropical Storm Debby crossed the region.”
The Coast Guard is reminding all mariners to file a float plan with a friend or family member before taking their boat out on the water.
Written by TMX staff, with additional reporting by Jack and Kitty Norton.
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