U.S. Coast Guard Station Cortez crews assisted multiple boaters Dec. 18-19 from rough seas associated with a weekend storm system.
A crew responded Dec. 18 to a call about a capsized kayaker in Sarasota Bay just off Bradenton Beach
The kayaker, a 74-year-old man, was clinging to the side of a partially submerged kayak for more than 15 minutes.
A boater whose vessel was anchored in the bay spotted the kayaker battling the elements and contacted Station Cortez.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Dylan Young, part of the Cortez crew, spoke to The Islander Dec. 19: “We headed over there and he was pretty cold. We pulled him onboard and recovered his kayak.”
The man was transported to the Historic Bridge Street Pier where he was taken for treatment by Manatee County Emergency Medical Services.
Young said another rescue occurred Dec. 19.
He said two boaters aboard a dinghy went adrift on their way back to a boat anchored off Cortez.
“Luckily, they had navigation lights on and they were easy to find,” Young said.
He said Station Cortez and other Coast Guard units retrieved the boaters and towed the dinghy to their anchored vessel.