ARIPEKA, Fla. - The U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater rescued a 55-year-old Brookville man Saturday about a mile off the coast of Aripeka.
The Coast Guard rescued Jeffrey Statkus around 2:25 a.m. Saturday.
“Fortunately, Statkus had his life jacket on and was also equipped with a flare and a spot light,” said operation unit controller Matt Bonneau. “This was a successful rescue because he properly prepared himself with lifesaving safety gear before he got underway.”
The Coast Guard took Statkus to Air Station Clearwater. The crew took a MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew around 1:44 a.m. Saturday to rescue Statkus.
Initially, the Coast Guard tried sending a 24-foot response boat for Statkus, but couldn’t complete the rescue because of his location and the depth of the water.
The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office transferred a 911 call to the U.S. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg around 10:41 p.m. Friday. The call said Statkus needed emergency assistance.
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