The Charlotte County Sheriff's Aviation Unit helicopter found two missing boaters at 12:36 a.m. Monday.
CCSO received a call at 9:52 p.m. Sunday from the U.S. Coast Guard concerning a distress call received from four women in a 23-foot bay boat about two men ejected from the boat after it hit a sandbar.
The six boaters left at 11 a.m. Sunday from Port Charlotte headed toward Gasparilla Island. They reportedly stopped on a sandbar for snacks and alcohol.
Article Photos
The CCSO helicopter, using heat-seeking equipment, began searching the west wall of Charlotte Harbor. At 12:36 a.m. Monday, CCSO Deputy First Class Mark Brownie found the missing men in waist-deep water, frantically waving, about 1½ miles north of Cape Haze Point, and a quarter mile offshore.
At sunset they boarded the boat to head back home and reportedly struck a sandbar. The two men were reportedly fooling around and jumped into the water. The women took control of the boat and pretended to leave making several circles in the dark around Turtle Bay and then were unable to find them.
After 40 minutes the women contacted emergency services.
The CCSO Marine Unit and Aviation helicopter, Charlotte County Fire/EMS, Cape Coral Fire, Boca Grande Fire, Lee County Fire, Lee County Sheriff's Office, and Florida Wildlife Commission all helped with thee search. At 10:48 p.m. a fire/EMS boat located the boat with the four women near Boca Grande; all four reportedly intoxicated. Their boat was escorted by CCSO Marine and FWC to Boca Grande Marina.
The CCSO helicopter, using heat-seeking equipment, began searching the west wall of Charlotte Harbor. At 12:36 a.m. Monday, CCSO Deputy First Class Mark Brownie found the missing men in waist-deep water, frantically waving, about 1 miles north of Cape Haze Point, and a quarter mile offshore. The helicopter shined its night lights on the two men and directed fire rescue boats to their location.
The men were picked up and then taken to a nearby marina. One of the men is from Port Charlotte, the other from Harbour Heights. FWC took over the ongoing investigation.
