Boater Rescued After Capsizing Near FL Bridge

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A boater was rescued after his 15-foot vessel capsized in waters near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Saturday morning, according to a U.S. Coast Guard news release.

Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders were contacted about the incident around 7:30 a.m. through a transferred 911 call that St. Petersburg Fire Rescue and Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office marine rescue crews were responding to a boater in distress.

A Station St. Petersburg boat crew retrieved the man from the water just before 8 a.m., the Coast Guard said.

The man was brought to the Maximo Boat Ramp with no injuries. He’s coordinating a commercial salvage of his boat.

“Sharing his float plan with his wife and coordination between partner agencies helped save this man's life,” Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph Catell, an operations unit controller at Sector St. Petersburg, said. “With National Safe Boating Week fast approaching, May 17-23, all boaters are reminded to brush up on boating safety skills and prepare for the boating season.”