Coast Guard rescues Florida fisherman before boat sinks

Man rescued moments before 12-foot dinghy capsizes, sinks near Fort De Soto Park

CLEARWATER, Fla. ā€“ The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a fisherman from a 12-foot dinghy Thursday, moments before it sank off Florida's Gulf coast.

A fisherman sent two mayday calls Thursday night saying that his boat was taking on water, less than a mile west of Fort De Soto Park.

The Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter crew from Clearwater to hoist the man to safety before his boat capsized and sank.

Lt. Matthew Mayer said it could have been a tragic situation.

"Thankfully, the fisherman had a working VHF radio so he could alert us of the distress immediately, and we were able to rescue him in time," Mayer said.

The man was not injured.


About the Author:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.