YANKEETOWN, Fla.— The Coast Guard rescued two adults and two children Sunday aboard an 18-foot boat 10 miles west of Aripeka.
At 11:15 p.m. Saturday, personnel from the Yankeetown station received a phone call from a woman stating her husband, child and two friends were aboard a flooded boat beginning to capsize. A helicopter crew from Clearwater and a 27-foot utility boat from Station Yankeetown were launched.
The helicopter crew found the people wearing life jackets and sitting in the boat in chest-deep water. The helicopter crew remained until the rescue boat crew arrived.
The boat crew safely rescued all four people and a fish caught by the survivors during their fishing trip. The people were given wool blankets and were taken to a Hernando Beach boat ramp. There were no reported injuries.
"We were fortunate the people had stayed in constant contact with a family member on shore," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Kyle Tappan, a crew member aboard the rescue boat. "Having a float plan, and updating it when plans change, allows rescuers to find someone in distress significantly faster."