Boat Captain Survives Hurricane Milton, Rescued by Coast Guard in Gulf of Mexico

A boat captain survived Hurricane Milton at sea and was rescued after enduring severe conditions for an extended period near Florida.

A boat captain, who vainly attempted to ride out the ferocity of Hurricane Milton in the Gulf of Mexico, endured a harrowing experience before being fortunately rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard on Thursday afternoon. The captain was discovered clinging to a cooler approximately 30 miles offshore, and thanks to a helicopter rescue, his life was saved.

Lt. Cmdr. Dana Grady, chief of the command center at Sector St. Petersburg, emphasized the extraordinary nature of the captain's survival. He estimated that the individual had endured wind gusts ranging from 75 to 90 mph and 20 to 25 foot waves for an extended period, including overnight. Grady attributed the captain's miraculous survival to his life jacket, emergency position indicating locator beacon, and the cooler that he clung to for dear life.

Breakdown and Rescuers' Response

According to the Coast Guard, the unfortunate captain was operating a fishing vessel that had experienced a breakdown about 20 miles off John's Pass on Monday. Salvage arrangements were being made, leaving the boat stranded in the treacherous waters.

On Wednesday, the boat's owner notified the Coast Guard that the captain had ventured back out to the vessel before dawn to make repairs, but he had not been heard from since. The Coast Guard successfully established radio communication with the captain, who reported that the rudder had become entangled with a line, rendering the vessel inoperable during his attempted return to port.

As the storm's intensity escalated, the Coast Guard urged the captain to don a life jacket and remain with the vessel's locator beacon for safety. Unfortunately, communication with him was lost around 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday. Despite the dire circumstances, rescue efforts continued unabated.

Remarkably, the captain was located and rescued around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, approximately 30 miles off Longboat Key, Florida. He was swiftly transported to Tampa General Hospital for necessary medical care, marking the successful conclusion to a perilous ordeal.

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