3 Men in Life Raft Rescued...

The Coast Guard brought three men to Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral on Monday April 9 at approximately 11:50 p.m., who were spotted 60-miles off the coast of Port Canaveral in a life raft.

The three men, whose residences are unknown, left together on the 40-foot sailing vessel Aqua Mist from Port Canaveral Saturday morning en-route to the Bahamas. The three men were reported missing Monday afternoon when a friend didn't hear from the men as scheduled. The Coast Guard launched an HU-25 falcon jet from Air Station Miami and a C-130 Hercules fixed-wing air craft from Air Station Clearwater, Fla., to search for the missing men. The C-130 spotted the men in a life raft shooting flares and using a strobe to signal the C-130. The Coast Guard requested assistance from a nearby Good Samaritan who picked up the three men.

An HH-60 helicopter from Air Station Clearwater was launched to retrieve the men and bring them back to Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral to awaiting EMS.

The Coast Guard reminds all boaters to have the proper life saving equipment on board their vessel before departure. Boaters should always carry flares and have life jackets for everyone aboard the vessel. Boaters should also seriously consider investing in an emergency positioning radio indicating beacon (EPIRB) and a VHF radio. These items can increase your chances of being rescued or seen by search and rescue personnel.