The United States Coast Guard lifted a Florida boater to safety off the coast of Clearwater after his fishing boat caught fire.
The helicopter crew located the boater on a life raft near the burning boat in two to four-foot seas at 5:46 p.m., the USCG said in a press release.
Footage from the USCG Southeast shows the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew hoisting the boater onto the rescue helicopter.
The boater was in stable condition and did not require medical attention, the agency said.
“The boater was able to quickly deploy a life raft and abandon their burning vessel,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Isaiah Andrews, a search and rescue controller. “Through quick actions and the utilization of an emergency position indicating radio beacon our aircrew was able to narrow the search area for a timely rescue.”
According to the USCG, its personnel on watch received an emergency position indicating radio beacon activation at 3:27 p.m., coordinating the helicopter crew launch.
The USCG said it is investigating the cause of the fire.
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Source: wfla
