Five men were rescued Sunday after they were huddled on a capsized boat 11 miles off the coast of Florida, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) officials said.
The USCG said in a statement that Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville was alerted at 10:15 a.m. that a 24-foot boat had capsized off the coast of Mayport, near Jacksonville.
Five people were reported in the water and the Coast Guard immediately dispatched boats and aircraft.
When the boat crew arrived at the capsized vessel, they found all five people wearing life jackets and sitting on top of the capsized boat, authorities said.
Coast Guard rescues eight people, including children, after boat capsizes 36 miles west of Florida
The 24-foot-long boat capsized Sunday 11 miles off the coast of Mayport, Florida. (U.S. Coast Guard/Mayport Station)
The crew safely brought all five aboard a Coast Guard vessel.
All five were wearing life jackets while waiting for rescuers. (U.S. Coast Guard/Mayport Station)
The U.S. Coast Guard released photos of the rescue effort, including showing the men being reunited with their families at the Mayport boat launch.
All five were reunited with their families on shore. (U.S. Coast Guard/Mayport Station)
No injuries were reported.
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The cause of the capsizing is under investigation, but authorities said winds at the time were 10 knots and waves were three to four feet high.
The Coast Guard dispatched mariners and aircraft to rescue the stranded sailors. (U.S. Coast Guard/Mayport Station)
Jacksonville Area Search and Rescue Operations Coordinator Lt. Nick Barrow warned boaters that life jackets can mean the difference between life and death in unpredictable waters.
“When on the water, conditions can become unpredictable and dangerous in an instant, so preparation is vital,” Barrow said in a statement. “Having life jackets for everyone on board can help save lives by providing buoyancy and increasing visibility in the water.”
A boat that capsized off the coast of Florida was salvaged on Monday, July 8, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard)
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The ship’s owners salvaged the vessel on Monday. USCG officials said there were no reports of pollution or sheen observed at the site where the vessel capsized.
