Birthday Fishing Trip Turns Into Nightmare Ordeal
Four family members, including a 90-year-old man, endured a terrifying 20-hour battle for survival in the open ocean after their boat capsized off the Florida coast. Clarence Woods, 90, his nephew Dennis Woods, 70, Cris Harding Sr., 42, and Cris Harding Jr., 18, set out on what should have been a celebratory fishing trip for Dennis's 70th birthday on Monday morning.
The family launched their 25-foot green-and-white catamaran, ironically named Money Well Wasted, from the Seminole Street Boat Ramp near Clearwater around 9:30am. Their festive mood quickly turned to panic just after noon when water began rapidly flooding one side of the vessel.
The Dramatic Capsizing and Desperate Struggle
The boat flipped over in less than five minutes, according to Dennis Woods, who recounted the terrifying moments to Clearwater Police after their rescue. "I didn't have time to contact the Coast Guard," he explained. "We were more concerned about getting a life jacket on the 90-year-old and the 18-year-old."
Tragically, Dennis's own life jacket became tangled and he had to abandon it as the boat overturned. The family lost all essential equipment, including a flare gun and strobe light that could have signalled for help earlier.
As darkness fell, the survivors faced their most challenging hours. They spent the night battling pounding waves that repeatedly slammed the 90-year-old Clarence off his feet, forcing the others to constantly brace him against the overturned hull.
"The night was real tough because the waves picked up and we were having to get on top of the rigging of it," Dennis recalled of their exhausting vigil.
Coast Guard to the Rescue
By 8:30pm, worried relatives had alerted authorities that the fishermen were long overdue. A Coast Guard helicopter searched overhead during the night, but the family had no means to attract attention.
Their salvation came at approximately 7:15am on Tuesday when an Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry crew spotted the four men clinging to their nearly submerged vessel approximately 26 miles west of Clearwater Passage.
Dramatic footage released by the Coast Guard shows only a sliver of the catamaran remaining above water as the family waved desperately for help. Rescuers deployed a life raft and an Mk-58 marine location marker to pinpoint their position in 2-3 foot seas with 5-10 knot winds.
US Coast Guard's Savannah O'Dell, who participated in the rescue operation, expressed particular concern for Clarence Woods. "The 90-year-old man, he was on the outside. We were worried about him," she told reporters.
Remarkably, all four men were pulled to safety despite battling dehydration and hypothermia, with the 90-year-old sustaining additional cuts during the ordeal.
Miraculous Survival and Recovery
The rescued boaters received immediate medical attention aboard the Coast Guard vessel, where they were wrapped in warm towels and given water and electrolytes. Emergency medical personnel awaited their arrival at the Coast Guard station, along with relieved family members.
Three of the men required hospitalisation overnight for treatment of their conditions, though all were expected to recover fully from their traumatic experience.
Reflecting on their incredible survival against the odds, Dennis Woods managed to find humour in their situation. "It was a good birthday, now that we're back on land," he joked to reporters after the rescue.
For the Coast Guard crew, the successful operation represented the culmination of their training. "We don't usually get to do this, but this is our main part of our job," O'Dell stated. "We train all the time, but being able to actually do the job is our favourite part."
The family's relatives described the outcome as nothing short of miraculous. "They honestly didn't think they were going to make it," Teresa Rucker, Dennis's sister, told Fox 13 News. "It's a miracle. I mean, for them to be out there... it's a miracle."
