Coast Guard Rescues Three Off St. Augustine

Tim Davis, 21, Bobby Jackson, 22, and Corey Kuzel, 22, all from Middleburg, Fla., called a commercial salvage company after their vessel became disabled and started taking on water while they were fishing. Coast Guard rescue coordinators from Sector Jacksonville also launched a 47-foot rescue boat crew from Station Mayport, as a precaution because of the heavy seas and high winds.

Shortly after the rescue boat was launched, the Coast Guard and the commercial salvage company lost radio communications with the crew of the 22-foot vessel. The commercial salvage company arrived at the vessel's last known position, and there was no sign of the three men or their vessel.

"Our engine stopped running, and the big waves ended up dumping over into the boat. Our bilge wasn't big enough to hold it all because it just kept coming in and coming in. It just happened so quick - just like that," said Davis, the owner of the boat.

The Coast Guard rescue boat crew arrived at the scene and located the three men clinging to the hull of their over-turned vessel. The three men were rescued and were transported to Coast Guard Station Mayport. They received no injuries as a result of the accident and were reunited with their families.

"They told us to stay right on top of the boat if it capsizes, so we did that and about an hour later the guys came out and rescued us," said Davis.

The weather off shore where the Coast Guard crew located the men was approximately five-to-seven foot seas with 23-to-28 mph winds.