Missing Boater Rescued After 2 Days As Search Continues

MIAMI — The U.S. Coast Guard said Monday it was searching for two missing boaters along the South Florida coast after a third missing boater was rescued Sunday night near Miami following two days at sea.

A Coast Guard spokesperson said officials were notified of the rescue around 9:30 p.m. Sunday by a good Samaritan vessel and crew around Biscayne Bay.

"The survivor stated he and the other two people encountered a storm, which capsized their vessel Friday," the Coast Guard spokesperson said. "The survivor began to swim for help while the other two boaters remained with the capsized vessel with life jackets on."

Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission notified the Coast Guard of the overdue 23-foot Blue Proline vessel with three people aboard shortly before 4 p.m. Sunday.

"The vessel and people departed from Caribbean Club in Key Largo, Thursday," according to the Coast Guard spokesperson. "The watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast in both English and Spanish."

The good Samaritan vessel transferred the rescued person to a Miami Fire Rescue Boat crew, which confirmed the man to be one of three missing boaters.

"The Miami Fire Boat crew took him to Jackson Memorial Hospital for further medical care," according to the Coast Guard spokesperson.

The search for the remaining boaters is being conducted by a Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew, a Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater HC-130 Hercules airplane crew and the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Cochito.