MIAMI — The Coast Guard rescued two missing teenage divers approximately 11 miles east of Fort Pierce, Fla., Saturday evening.
The 18- and 19-year-old divers were missing for about six hours before being rescued by a Coast Guard Station Fort Pierce boatcrew around 9 p.m. Saturday.
The two teenagers commenced their one-hour dive from a 23-foot recreational boat at 2:45 p.m., and the Coast Guard was notified at 4:18 p.m. that they had not been relocated. The dive location’s water depth was approximately 85 feet.
The Coast Guard searched with two boatcrews from Station Fort Pierce and a helicopter crew from Air Station Miami.
Also assisting in the search were:
- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Martin County Sheriff’s Office
- Indian River Dive Team
“I couldn’t be more proud of all the crewmembers involved in this successful search and rescue case,” said Chief Warrant Officer David Ladomirak, commanding officer of Coast Guard Station Fort Pierce. “The inter-agency effort on this case was outstanding. A member of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office was aboard our 45-foot boat, and spotted the missing divers alive and well. I highly recommend that divers equip themselves with safety gear, such as whistles, fluorescent lights, or anything else that could help increase your chance of survival during an emergency.”
