The United States Coast Guard rescues a sailor and his dog stranded in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida hurricane helen wreaked havoc It is heading towards land on Thursday.
The man and his dog were aboard a 36-foot boat that “disabled and began taking on water” Thursday afternoon, according to USCG Air Station Clearwater. Said on Facebook.
Coast Guard crews responded to the boater's distress call and arrived at the man's location, about 25 miles off Sanibel Island near Fort Myers.
A successful rescue attempt was made and the unidentified sailor and his dog were rescued and brought back to land.
One of the rescue workers photographed the man and his dog wearing a life jacket as a USCG helicopter flew overhead.
It was unclear where the sailor was going or from, but by hovering near Helen, small craft advisories and hurricane warnings were in effect for the area.
A small craft advisory means wind speeds of 21 to 33 knots and seas of 10 feet or more are expected to create dangerous wave conditions for small craft.
hurricane Helen entered as Category 4 The storm hit around 11:10 pm on Thursday night.
The eyewall moved over the Big Bend area and the Florida Panhandle with estimated maximum sustained winds of 140 mph.
storm is expected blast the area with hurricane force Potentially “impossible” 20 foot storm surge winds and flooding rain.
At least one person died Thursday when a driver struck a sign while driving on Interstate 4 in the Tampa Bay area. According to WTSP.
The fatal crash happened near mile marker 1 just before 8 p.m.
Pasco County Sheriff's Office More than 20 calls for water rescue were reported as flooding began around midnight Friday along the US 19 corridor in west Pasco.
(Tags to translate)US News(T)Coast Guard(T)Severe Weather(T)Florida(T)Gulf of Mexico(T)Hurricane Helene(T)Hurricanes(T)Rescue(T)Hurricanes
