A recent U.S. Coast Guard report highlighted a dramatic rescue operation about 26 miles west of Clearwater. Four people were saved after their 24-foot boat capsized in an incident that unfolded over nearly ten hours. The situation escalated late Monday night when a family member reported the boat as overdue at 9:08 p.m., prompting immediate action from the Coast Guard Sector in St. Petersburg.
As the search intensified overnight, various Coast Guard resources were deployed to locate the missing individuals in the Gulf of Mexico. At 7:15 a.m. on Tuesday, an aircrew from Air Station Miami spotted the four people clinging to their submerged vessel. Conditions were moderately challenging, with 2 to 3-foot waves and winds of 5 to 10 knots. To aid the rescue, a life raft and a Mk-58 marine location marker were deployed, helping guide surface units to the stranded boaters.
A crew from Coast Guard Station Sand Key arrived shortly thereafter, successfully bringing all four survivors to safety. Fortunately, they were found in stable condition and were handed over to emergency medical services upon return. Ensign Gaige Garrett from the Sector St. Petersburg Command Center praised the coordinated efforts of the Coast Guard teams and partner organizations and emphasized the importance of recreational boaters carrying proper safety gear, including approved life jackets and communication devices.
