Four Rescued When Boat Sinks Near Merritt Island
By Space Coast Daily // June 26, 2012
All OK In Rough Seas
BREVARD COUNTY • MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA – Four men are safe after being rescued from the Indian River after their boat ran out of gas and capsized in the Indian River Tuesday night.
Lt. Jeff Taylor of Brevard County Fire Rescue said units responded to the area of 7655 South Tropical Trail in Merritt Island after dispatchers received a 911 call reported the distressed boaters.
The call was dispatched at 6:18 p.m.
When rescuers arrived, three of the four boaters were already being brought to shore by a citizen using a private vessel, Taylor said.
The three rescued boaters told officials that their boat had run out of gas and had been capsized by a wave in the rough waters. The fourth boater refused to leave the boat and was attempting to bring it to shore. He was reportedly uninjured.
The three men who were brought to shore were evaluated and refused transport to area hospitals. All were reported to be in good condition and uninjured.
The accident happened approximately 1/2 mile from the dock where they were brought for evaluation so rescuers were unsure of the size and type of boat involved. The fourth boater was not evaluated.
With inclement weather in the area from Tropical Storm (now Tropical Depression) Debby, water conditions in the area were unusually choppy.
A small craft advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service for the coastal waters from the Volusia/Brevard county line to Sebastian Inlet through Thursday morning. Intercoastal water conditions are expected to be rough with showers likely through the day tomorrow.
