Coast Guard Rescues Florida Captain Clinging to Cooler After Hurricane Milton

A fishing boat captain survived 18 hours at sea in hurricane conditions by holding onto a cooler in the Gulf of Mexico.

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.