Boat Captain Forced to Abandon Ship During Hurricane Rides Out Storm on Top of Cooler: 'This Man Survived in a Nightmare Scenario'

The captain of a fishing boat survived Hurricane Milton with the help of a cooler and a life jacket after being forced to abandon ship with the onset of severe weather conditions.

Captain of the fishing boat Capt. Dave contacted the U.S. Coast Guard's (USCG) St. Petersburg sector on Monday in order to report himself and one crew member disabled about 20 miles off of John's Pass. The boat was located by a Coast Guard Station Sand Key rescue boat crew and an Air Station Clearwater rescue helicopter, and the two people were brought back to Air Station Clearwater, leaving the boat adrift.

The owner of the vessel reported to USCG midday Wednesday that the captain had gone back out to make repairs on the boat, having not checked in since he left around 3.a.m.

Watch standers were able to establish contact with the captain, who could not return to port because the vessel's rudder was fouled with a line. The captain was instructed to wear a life jacket and remain in close proximity with the vessel's emergency position indicating radio beacon.

However, contact with the captain was lost as Milton made its way towards landfall Wednesday evening.

He was eventually rescued by a Coast Guard Air Station Miami helicopter crew on Thursday afternoon, found clinging to a cooler with a life jacket on approximately 30 miles off Longboat Key. He was taken to Tampa General Hospital.

"This man survived in a nightmare scenario for even the most experienced mariner," said Lt. Cmdr. Dana Grady, Sector St. Petersburg's command center chief. "To understand the severity of the hurricane conditions, we estimate he experienced approximately 75-90 mph winds, 20-25 foot seas, for an extended period of time to include overnight. He survived because of a life jacket, his emergency position indicating locator beacon, and a cooler."