Archive image: A U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew deploys a rescue basket to a Coast Guard Station Sand Key 45-foot response boat-medium (RBM) crew in Sand Key, Florida, Aug. 13, 2025.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg aircrews and boat crews regularly conduct rescue basket hoist training to maintain operational readiness.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Riley Perkofski.
CLEARWATER, Fla. — A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew and a Station Sand Key boat crew conducted the rescue of an overdue boater approximately 6 nautical miles west of Three Rooker Island. Friday, March 27, 2026.
Rescued was a 39-year-old male who was transported to Tampa General Hospital in stable condition.
Once on the scene, the MH-60T Jayhawk Medium-Range Recovery Helicopter aircrew deployed the rescue swimmer who hoisted the boater after finding him clinging to a fuel can at approximately 4:30 a.m.
Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a notification at approximately 9:30 p.m., Thursday, from Pasco County Sheriff’s Office about a possible overdue boater who departed from Anclote Village Marina in a 12-foot aluminum skiff at approximately 7:30 a.m., Thursday, to go fishing.
Rescued was a 39-year-old male who was transported to Tampa General Hospital in stable condition. Friday, March 27, 2026.
U.S. Coast Guard video.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector St Petersburg.
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater.
U.S. Coast Guard Station Sand Key.
U.S. Coast Guard Southeast.
U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command.
“Direct coordination with our partner agencies allows for a quick and timely response by our crews,” said U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Kekoa Taijeron, an operations specialist assigned to the Sector St. Petersburg command center. “We are grateful to have safely rescued the overdue boater and brought them back to shore safely.”
The Coast Guard Southeast District remains always ready, with prepared crews and responders ready to meet today’s missions and tomorrow’s challenges.
–USCG–
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