A Florida man survived after being stranded at sea for more than 24 hours while enduring a blazing sun and stings from jellyfish as his sinking boat filled with water.
Charles Gregory, 25, left for a for a fishing trip off the coast of St Augustine, Florida on Friday when his 12ft jon boat became partially submerged.
Gregory was initially knocked out of his vessel, but fought to get back on board.
Gregory managed to stay alive even after suffering under the hot Florida sun and enduring jellyfish stings. At night, things were made were worse since it was windy and the water was cold.
When Gregory didn’t return to the Lighthouse Park Boat Ramp on Friday evening, his family became worried and filed a report to the Coast Guard.
Gregory removed his boat’s motor to keep the boat afloat and even used his swimming trunks to flag down help from the sea and air.
After US Coast Guard air crew spotted him 12 miles from the shore of St Augustine on Saturday morning, a crew was able to rescue Gregory.
A video shared by the US Coast Guard shows the dramatic moment when Gregory was found. His boat was filled with water and a visibly relieved Gregory climbed into the larger boat of his rescuers.
In a statement, the US Coast Guard said Gregory was taken to emergency services and “no medical concerns were reported”.
Gregory’s parents said they were relieved to have their son back.
Gregory’s father, Raymond, said: “Our tax dollars were very well-spent today. It’s a miracle. There is a God up there.”
The older Gregory said he had given up hope of finding his son. “I should never give up hope,” he said.
Cmdr Nick Barrow, the search and rescue mission coordinator for Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville, said this case resulted in positive outcome, but issued a warning to always be prepared in the water.
He said: “We are pleased about the outcome in this case and I would like to thank all of our local and state partners who were heavily involved in searching for Charles and bringing him home to his family.
“While this case resulted in rescuing Charles from a life-threatening situation, it highlights the importance of having safety gear onboard and being prepared for the worst. If you plan to head out on the water, remember to have a life jacket, VHF marine grade radio, signaling devices and an emergency personal locator beacon to contact first responders in case you are in need of assistance.”
