Brevard Sheriff Wayne Ivey Praises Two Members of Aviation Unit Who Rescued Boater on Indian River
By Wayne Ivey, Brevard County Sheriff // November 10, 2022
BCSO Members rescue Robert Shufelt, a veteran trapped on sinking sailboat in the height of the storm
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Please join me in thanking Chief Aviation Pilot John Coppola and Pilot/Aviation Mechanic Mike Ryle for their heroic actions during Hurricane Nicole early this morning.
While John and Mike are normally flying overhead as our team is working to keep the community safe, early this morning, they took to the water to rescue Robert Shufelt, a veteran who was trapped on his sailboat that was sinking in the height of the storm.
The rescue took place after Shufelt’s boat, which he has lived in for the past 14 years, lost its anchor hold from all three anchors and began to uncontrollably drift in the Indian River.
The vessel eventually ran aground, but as a result, started taking on water and tilted to one side as it took on even more water and began to sink.
Shufelt called for help as he was clinging to the boat to keep from drowning in the extremely rough water.
Pilots Coppola and Ryle were nearby and heard the calls for distress as they were monitoring the various agency channels over the radio.
Related Story:COCOA POLICE: Man Dies After First Responders Rescued Him from Yacht Battered By Hurricane Nicole
Since the conditions were unsafe to fly one of our rescue helicopters, they grabbed a zodiac boat that is kept at our Aviation Hanger and launched from a nearby area. John and Mike encountered significant winds, waves, and rain, as they made their way to Shufelt but were able to rescue him from the boat as it was taking on even more water.
Shufelt was brought safely to the shoreline, where our partners from Cocoa Police and Cocoa Fire Rescue were waiting to offer medical assistance.
I tell people every day that I am surrounded by an amazing team of men and women who do amazing things.
This incident is a perfect example of that statement, as John and Mike found a way to rescue Mr. Shufelt during what was, without question, some of the worst conditions possible.
They went outside their normal duty assignments and risked their own lives to keep one of our citizens safe, and I could not be more proud of them for their actions.
Great job, John, Mike, and our partners at the City of Cocoa Police and Fire!
