MIAMI – The Coast Guard rescued a man in the water near Wisteria anchorage in the Florida Keys early Sunday morning.
The man fell into the water while attempting to board his dinghy from his sailboat when the dinghy capsized.
Fireman Nicholas Leek, aboard the moored Coast Guard Cutter Thetis, heard someone cry out for help in the water around 2 a.m. Leek contacted Coast Guard Sector Key West who issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and launched a crew from Coast Guard Station Key West to rescue the man.
The man was found clinging to a rope connected from his sailboat to the dinghy. Upon being rescued, he stated he had been calling for help for an hour. The man was transferred to awaiting EMS in stable condition and taken to Lower Keys Medical Center.
“Due to the vigilance of Fireman Leek and his keen hearing, we were able to successfully rescue the mariner,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Alek LaMour, a U.S. Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstander. “This is a great reminder that as the warmer months roll in, mariners should maintain boating safety precautions. Wear lifejackets, keep an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon onboard, and carry a secondary noise-making device such as a whistle to call for help.”
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