59-year-old man rescued by Coast Guard in Estero Bay, Fla.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A 59-year-old man was rescued from a 44-foot sailing vessel by the Coast Guard in Estero Bay, Fla., Tuesday.

The master aboard the sailing vessel Lady Catherine contacted Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders at 5:09 p.m., via cell phone reporting he was suffering from seizure like symptoms and was in need of medical assistance.

Watchstanders launched a boatcrew aboard a 29-foot Response Boat-Small from Coast Guard Station Fort Myers Beach. The crew arrived on scene at 5:15 p.m., transferred the man to the station where they were met by EMS at 5:26 p.m. EMS then took him to Gulf Coast Medical Center for further care.

“This case is a great example of the great working relationship we have with Fort Myers Beach EMS,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Emily Shea, a rescue coordinator at the sector.

The Coast Guard reminds all boaters to ensure they are carrying all of the proper safety equipment, such as flares, a VHF-FM radio and other emergency signaling and communication devices aboard their vessel. Cell phones are not the preferred method of communication at sea due to gaps in service.