A Florida man was rescued from a half-submerged boat on Saturday, after being lost at sea for nearly two days, according to the Associated Press.
The search began Friday evening, when the family of 25-year-old Charles Gregory reported him missing after he failed to return home from a fishing trip. A Coast Guard aircrew eventually found him nearly two days later, sitting in a half-submerged boat 12 miles off the coast.
Gregory had last been seen at 4 a.m., leaving the Lighthouse Park boat ramp in St. Augustine in a 12-foot jon boat, reports CNN. Soon after, a wave hit the boat and knocked him into the water. Gregory managed to get back on board, but found himself carried out to sea. According to Charles’ father, Raymond Gregory, what followed was a harrowing struggle for survival, in which Charles was stung by jellyfish, spotted sharks in the water, and suffered severe sunburns. At one point, Charles removed the vessel’s motor to keep the boat afloat, and later used his swimming trunks to attempt to flag down nearby boats and aircraft.
Charles is currently home recuperating from his injuries, which include severe sunburns, bruises, bites and rhabdomyolysis, a condition that causes your muscles to break down that can result from overexertion and trauma. Charles’ father told CNN that he is expected to make a full recovery.
“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,” said Commander Nick Barrow of the Jacksonville Coast Guard Sector and search and rescue mission coordinator, in a press release. “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.”
