Justice · Marine rescueMarco Island boater rescue: Man brought ashore after three days at seaAired October 30, 2026 at 9:54 AM UTCWritten October 30, 2026 at 10:00 AM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:07Rescuers brought a stranded boater ashore after three days at sea.0:10His vessel had lost power, and crews found him sixteen miles off Coon Key Pass.0:15Authorities said he returned to Marco Island without injuries.0:18How did a worried person's call help bring him home?0:21The man spent three days at sea before rescuers reached him.0:24Someone ashore had noticed he wasn't communicating and contacted authorities,0:27setting a response in motion that brought several marine rescue teams together.0:31The Collier County Marine Unit located him about sixteen miles southwest of Coon Key0:35Pass, near Marco Island.0:36Crews ended the search Wednesday.0:38That distance describes where they found him relative to the pass.0:41The concern ashore began with more than twenty, four hours without contact.0:45Christian Davies, Marko Island's public information officer, said the man had come0:50to the area to buy a boat.0:51Someone who knew him became worried when they couldn't reach him.0:54Davies said that person called authorities and explained why the man had come to the0:58area.0:58They hadn't heard from him for more than twenty, four hours.1:01Their concern gave authorities a missing boater to look for.1:04The Coast Guard alerted local crews that the boater had been out of contact.1:07Marco Island Fire then sent a rescue fireboat.1:10His three days at sea and that gap in communication described different stages of1:14the ordeal.1:15The concerned person's call reached authorities.1:17The Coast Guard alerted crews, and Marco Island Fire deployed its boat.1:21The response also included the Marco Island Police Marine Unit and the Collier1:25County Marine Unit, which ultimately found him.1:27Fireboat50 carried the man back to Marco Island.1:29Before that trip home, paramedics evaluated and treated him aboard the boat.1:33Authorities said he had no injuries, and they withheld his identity while he1:37underwent the medical evaluation.1:38Sea Tau recovered the disabled vessel and towed it separately.1:41With the man aboard Fireboat50 and his boat under tow, both parts of the recovery1:45were completed.1:46Authorities didn't release details of his treatment.1:48Marco Island Fire Rescue credited teamwork, communication, and coordination among1:53the public safety partners.1:54It also thanked those involved, including the Collier County Marine Emergency1:58Response Team.1:59The effort reached beyond the responding agencies to other people listening on the2:02water.2:02Sailor Steve Roseman heard a Coast Guard radio broadcast seeking the missing man2:06while he was at sea.2:07He said he was concerned for another sailor in trouble.2:10After years of sailing, he'd experienced being stuck himself.2:20Roseman said he carries an emergency locator, so the Coast Guard can find him if he2:24gets into trouble.2:25He discussed an EPIRB and emergency position indicating radio beacon as part of his2:30own preparation for going to sea.2:32Local authorities described incidents like this as uncommon.2:35They urged people heading out alone to tell someone their plans.2:38In this rescue, someone ashore noticed the silence and made the call that helped get2:42responders moving.2:43The man is back on shore, and his disabled boat has been recovered.2:47Authorities haven't explained what caused the power failure or how the marine unit2:50pinpointed his boat.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSS
