U.S. Coast Guard crews rescued three boaters off Captiva Island after their boat flipped and they were stuck at sea for nine hours.
A family member reported concerns at 1 a.m. Sunday after not hearing from the boaters for five hours.
A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater helicopter crew found the boaters sitting on the top of the capsized boat about 6 a.m., and a boat crew with the Coast Guard in Fort Myers Beach rescued them and sent them for emergency medical evaluation at HealthPark Medical Center in Fort Myers.
The boaters reported no health issues from being stuck at sea, according to a Coast Guard press release.
It's unknown why the boat flipped.
Dennise Werre, chief warrant officer of the Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, said in a press release that it's important to have a “float plan” with loved ones before going out to sea. Float plans are meant to be told to someone not going on the boat, outlining information about the intended route, how many people are aboard and what safety equipment is available.
“We were able to locate and rescue the three boaters thanks to the quick coordination of the Coast Guard and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, along with the use of critical search tools,” Werre said.
