ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A 73-year-old man was rescued by the Coast Guard after he fell off his 20-foot recreational vessel, Thursday.
Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a relayed distress call from 911 concerning a man who suffered a medical illness after falling overboard, Thursday evening.
The man’s wife and friends dove in and kept the man’s head above water for about six minutes until Coast Guard Station Cortez crewmembers aboard their 25-foot Response Boat-Small arrived on scene.
“The crew witnessed the man struggling in the water, they pulled him aboard and began CPR immediately,” said LT Mark Upson, command duty officer at the sector.
Coast Guard boat crewmembers continued CPR all the way to shore where they were met by awaiting Emergency Medical Services personnel.
The Coast Guard advises boaters to always wear a life jacket and be prepared.
