The two men rescued, Joe Nita, 81, and Brian Daugherty, 72, were located 7 miles west of Marco Island by an MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater at approximately 8:40 p.m.
The aircrew vectored a 45-foot-Response Boat-Medium (RBM) boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Ft. Meyers Beach and the Coast Guard Cutter Tarpon, homeported in St. Petersburg, to the scene.
The RB-M boatcrew embarked the two men on to the RBM and transported them to Station Ft. Meyers Beach where their family was awaiting.
No injuries or medical concerns reported.
“It’s always a great feeling when you can reunite mariners with their loved ones,” said Lt. Robert List, the command duty officer. “I’m extremely proud of our watchstanders who worked diligently to help locate the two men and of course the multiple crews we had searching who were able to execute the mission and make this possible.”