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A man who disappeared at sea was found clinging to the bow of his capsized boat about 86 miles off the Florida coast after nearly two days at sea.
Stuart Bee had set sail on his ship from Cape Marina in Port Canaveral on Friday afternoon before it was affected by mechanical problems on Saturday.
The 32-foot Sea Ray was disabled, leaving it adrift defenseless in the Atlantic Ocean.
Authorities say he was abruptly awakened sometime after midnight Sunday “when the water entered the forward cabin and pushed him out of the forward hatch of the ship.”
The missing sailor was rescued by the motorized vessel Ángeles. Photo: Southeastern US Coast Guard
They left him stranded at sea for hours in the dark, clinging to the last part of his boat that was still above the water.
But the US Coast Guard said that as conditions became lighter, it finally saw another ship and began desperately trying to stop it.
“After dawn he noticed the motorboat Angeles in the distance, took off his shirt and began to wave to get the attention of the crew,” said a spokesman.
The footage shows him climbing aboard the ship, before the crew responded to an “Enhanced Group Call” message to say they had located the missing man.
Captain Mark Vlaun, commander-in-chief of the US Coast Guard sector in Jacksonville, greeted those involved in the rescue.
“Saving lives at sea is our greatest calling,” he said.
“This is a truly incredible result that shows the bond between all sailors and our community.
“Thank you to our mission partners who took action and everyone who spread the word to find and rescue Mr. Bee.”
A spokesman for the US Coast Guard added: “Thank you to all the sailors who were on the lookout and especially to the motor boat Angeles for rescuing Mr. Bee.”
