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Coast Guard Finds Four Florida Fishermen Alive Near Capsized Boat After Overnight Search

Mechanical trouble combined with lost cellphone coverage complicated efforts to reach the group offshore.

Overview

  • The men—Dennis Woods, 70; Clarence Woods, 90; Cris Harding Sr., 42; and Cris Harding Jr., 18—left the Seminole Street Boat Ramp around 9:30 a.m. Monday on the 25‑foot catamaran Money Well Wasted.
  • They were located around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday about 26 miles offshore, nearly 24 hours after departure, according to Clearwater Police and media reports.
  • A U.S. Coast Guard airplane spotted the overturned vessel, and rescuers found the four atop the hull for roughly 20 hours before recovery.
  • Clearwater Police and the Coast Guard launched an overnight search after families reported the group missing and investigators found their truck and trailer at the boat ramp.
  • All four were reported in healthy condition and were evaluated by firefighters before being taken to Morton Plant Hospital for treatment.