LONGBOAT KEY, Fla. — A United States Coast Guard (USCG) Air Station Miami 65 helicopter crew rescued a man who was clinging to a cooler off Longboat Key on Thursday.
USCG said the man was about 30 miles off the coast. They had lost connection with the man around 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday.
The man was taken to Tampa General Hospital for medical care, USCG said.
#Breaking An @USCG Air Station Miami 65 helicopter crew rescued a man clinging to a cooler approximately 30 mi. off Longboat Key. The man was taken to Tampa General Hospital for medical care. Sector St. Pete lost communications w/ the man at approx. 6:45 p.m., Wed. #SAR pic.twitter.com/64wSHuRAeH
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) October 10, 2024

There are some truly inspiring people who call the Tampa Bay area home. People who overcome odds that others could not even imagine. Tampa Bay 28 anchor Lauren St. Germain met a woman who is doing just that, as she competes at an international level after 2 life-saving lung transplants.