Ratickle
Founding Member / Super Moderator
Man, I wonder why not enough life jackets?
msnbc.com staff and news service reports
updated 10/10/2011 4:28:22 AM ET 2011-10-10T08:28:22
MARATHON, Florida — Seven people not wearing life vests treaded water in choppy seas for 20 hours before being rescued off the Florida Keys, the U.S. Coast Guard said. An 80-year-old woman drowned.
A 4-year-old girl was among those saved.
A person who rescued three of the boaters called the Coast Guard about 8 a.m. Sunday and told them others were still in the water, according to Petty Officer Nick Ameen.
About an hour later a Coast Guard crew found the four who had drifted about four miles from the boat that capsized and sank at around noon Saturday off Marathon.
Ameen said the group was not able to stay together and the elderly woman never resurfaced.
'Wear a life jacket'
The girl suffered mild hypothermia but the others reported no medical issues other than exhaustion, Ameen told the Orlando Sentinel.
"Treading water just for one hour is challenging to say the least, but when the will to live kicks in human beings can do amazing things," Ameen told the newspaper.
"The Coast Guard can't stress enough how crucial it can be to wear a life jacket," he added.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44840738/ns/us_news-life/
msnbc.com staff and news service reports
updated 10/10/2011 4:28:22 AM ET 2011-10-10T08:28:22
MARATHON, Florida — Seven people not wearing life vests treaded water in choppy seas for 20 hours before being rescued off the Florida Keys, the U.S. Coast Guard said. An 80-year-old woman drowned.
A 4-year-old girl was among those saved.
A person who rescued three of the boaters called the Coast Guard about 8 a.m. Sunday and told them others were still in the water, according to Petty Officer Nick Ameen.
About an hour later a Coast Guard crew found the four who had drifted about four miles from the boat that capsized and sank at around noon Saturday off Marathon.
Ameen said the group was not able to stay together and the elderly woman never resurfaced.
'Wear a life jacket'
The girl suffered mild hypothermia but the others reported no medical issues other than exhaustion, Ameen told the Orlando Sentinel.
"Treading water just for one hour is challenging to say the least, but when the will to live kicks in human beings can do amazing things," Ameen told the newspaper.
"The Coast Guard can't stress enough how crucial it can be to wear a life jacket," he added.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44840738/ns/us_news-life/
