Overview

• The U.S. Coast Guard rescued the captain approximately 30 miles off Longboat Key, Florida, on October 10, 2024.
• The captain's fishing vessel had become disabled, and he returned to it for repairs just hours before Hurricane Milton made landfall.
• After losing contact with the Coast Guard, the captain endured winds of 75-90 mph and 20-25 foot seas overnight.
• The captain's survival was credited to his life jacket, emergency locator beacon, and the cooler he used as a flotation device.
• Hurricane Milton has resulted in at least 16 fatalities in Florida and left millions without power.