An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Press Release | Sept. 14, 2024

Coast Guard rescues boater 40 miles off Crystal River

Public Affairs Detachment Tampa Bay - 305-965-4672

Editor's note: All Coast Guard Southeast imagery can be found on DVIDS, here

CLEARWATER, Fla. —  Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater aircrews rescued a man, Saturday, after his sailing vessel took on water 40 miles off Crystal River.  

No injuries were reported. 

Air Station Clearwater airplane and helicopter rescue crews arrived on scene and located the boater aboard his partially submerged vessel around 2 p.m. The helicopter crew hoisted the man from the water and transported him to Air Station Clearwater.

The distressed boater radioed Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders through channel 16, at 1 p.m., reporting his vessel was taking on water through a crack in the hull.

"The distressed boater did an outstanding job by wearing his life jacket and having a marine-grade radio onboard his vessel,” said Lt. Casey Skomer, an operations unit controller at Sector St. Petersburg. “These items contributed to him being rescued swiftly and safely.”  

For breaking news, follow us on X. For additional information, find us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our newsroom, here.

-USCG-