Dramatic rescue video shot off the the Florida shore shows U.S. Coast Guard workers descending from a helicopter to fish a man and his dog from the Gulf of Mexico as deadly Hurricane Helene moved in.
According to footage posted online by the Coast Guard, the frightening encounter occurred 25 miles from Sanibel Island on Thursday when a 36-foot sailboat became disabled and started filling with water.
A first responder is seen landing in the gulf with a raft connected to a hovering chopper as the stranded man in an orange life preserver and his canine, who’s wearing a yellow life jacket, abandon their boat and jump into the choppy waters. They’re quickly boarded onto a raft, which is pulled up to the Coast Guard helicopter on a cable and brought to safety.
“The man & his dog were reportedly in good medical condition,” Coast Guard officials said. “They were brought to Southwest Florida International airport to meet with EMS.”
Their disabled vessel was left to float away. The close encounter was captured clearly by a petty officer’s bodycam.
Some people who viewed the rescue on social media asked how they could sign up to join the Coast Guard. Others wanted to know where they could buy a camera like the one used to film the wild water rescue.
Hurricane Helene is blamed for at least 30 deaths as it continues making its way through the southeast Friday with sustained winds of 140 mph.