Florida Sheriff's Officers Rescue Boaters as Vessel Takes on Water

Ten people were rescued by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) after their boat started to take on water near Beer Can Island, on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the HCSO said.

The sheriff’s aviation unit located the boat, with six people on it, and indicated the precise location to the marine unit, which came to the rescue of the boaters.

The units also rescued four additional boaters who had taken refuge on the shore, the HCSO said.

The footage shows the boaters waving at the aviation unit, and the sheriff’s rescue boat coming up beside their boat to assist them. The bodycam footage shows part of the rescue operation.

The second part of the footage shows four additional people stranded on the rocky shore of the island. Additional bodycam footage shows them getting to safety on the rescue boat.

“A day on the water can be unpredictable, which is why it’s vital to prepare,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. Credit: Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office via Storyful

Video transcript

--circling right over the pontoon boat they're waving at us. They got life Jackets on board.

- So the engine's up. So I don't know if it's just disabled. But it appears to be OK. But they're all waving at us.

- Now we turn it over to you [INAUDIBLE].

- Yeah.

- There you go. You got it?

- [INAUDIBLE]

- Appreciate y'all help, man.

- Yep.

- [INAUDIBLE]

- Now, can they get up?

- Save them.

- [INAUDIBLE]

- [INAUDIBLE] to Marine, did you copy?

- Hey, man, hey-- hey, I just wanted to make it, dude. I wasn't even think about these shoes. [CHUCKLES]

- Thanks, guys.

- No problem.

- --circling right over the pontoon boat they're waving at us. They got life jackets on board.

- So the engine's up. So I don't know if it's just disabled. But it appears to be OK. But they're all waving at us.

- Now we're just turning it over to you [INAUDIBLE].

[INTERPOSING VOICES]

- Yeah.

- Thank you You got it?

- [INAUDIBLE]

- Appreciate y'all yelp, man.

- Yep.

- [INAUDIBLE]

- Now, can they get up?

- Save them.

- [INAUDIBLE]

- [INAUDIBLE] to Marine, did you copy?

- Hey, man, hey, I-- hey, I just wanted to make it, dude. I wasn't even think about these shoes.

[CHUCKLES]

- Thanks, guys.

- No problem.