19-03-2025
WATCH: Florida deputies, good Samaritan save man clinging to anchor line after falling overboard
NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)— A man fell overboard and spent nearly an hour hanging onto an anchor before being rescued by the Nassau County Sheriff's Office and a good Samaritan.
On March 13 around 4:21 p.m., dispatch alerted the marine unit of a person in distress in the Cumberland Sound near the St. Mary's Entrance channel.
Deputies arrived to find a 1996 Sea Pro center console with a person who had reported that his friend fell overboard when he was trying to raise the anchor, NCSO said.
The man who fell overboard was wearing a life jacket and had been clinging to the anchor line for about 45 minutes in 64-degree water. NCSO said he was showing signs of severe exhaustion and hypothermia.
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Deputies from the NCSO and the Camden County Sheriff's Office coordinated a rescue and with the help of a good Samaritan. The man was successfully pulled back about the boat.
'This incident highlights the critical importance of wearing proper safety equipment while boating,' said Sheriff Bill Leeper. 'The life jacket this individual was wearing no doubt saved his life.'
The victim was transported to a nearby hospital for immediate medical attention and is reported to be in stable condition.
NCSO reminds boaters to always wear a properly fitted life jacket, check weather and water conditions, carry proper safety equipment, and file a float plan with someone on shore.
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