Five boaters rescued by Coast Guard 23 miles SW of Marco Island

MARCO ISLAND, Fla. —Five men were rescued 23 miles southwest of Marco Island by the Coast Guard after their vessel reportedly experienced mechanical issues.

The men left from Island Marina on a 30-foot boat early Friday morning on an overnight fishing charter.

At approximately 9 a.m. on Sunday, the Collier County Sheriff's Office contacted Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders after hearing that the boaters did not return when expected.

The following were missing until the Coast Guard aircrew spotted the boat around 1 p.m.: Juan Castro-Varela, Jorge Luis Flores-Curbelo, Jesus M. Valdes, Alberides Augusto Milan Perez, and one unidentified male.

The boat crew was able to promptly locate and transport the men, along with their boat, to Island Marina.

A Coast Guard Station Fort Myers Beach boat crew and Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry collaborated in the rescue.

"Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders were able to rescue the five men quickly and efficiently because they let their loved ones know where they were going and updated them frequently with their location," Petty Officer 3rd Class Santiago Gomez, Coast Guard Seventh District public Affairs specialist, said. "We encourage all boaters to have a float plan and means to communicate during an emergency. In this case, constant communication with someone on land ultimately aided search and rescue personnel, providing a narrower search area, resulting in the missing men being found faster."