KEY WEST, Fla. – Coast Guard crewmembers from Station Marathon, Fla. rescued Mike Pagliccia of Naples, Fla. after his personal watercraft started taking on water and sank ten miles north of Marathon.
Coast Guard received a radio distress call from Pagliccia, a 45 year-old male, at approximately 1:15 p.m. today stating that his vessel had sunk and he was in the water as well. Coast Guard also received a distress report from Tagliccia’s SPOT GPS messenger shortly after the radio call.
The Coast Guard immediately responded by launching a small boat from Station Marathon. The small boat crew from Station Marathon arrived on scene and recovered Pagliccia from the water.
Pagliccia was attempting a trip to raise money for the American Cancer Society. The trip was designed to break a world record for distance traveled on a personal water craft in 24 hours from Naples to Marathon and back. Pagliccia had made it to Marathon and was on his way back to Naples.
“We were happy to save Mr. Pagliccia and get him to shore safe,” said Capt. Pat DeQuattro, commander Sector Key West. “Mr. Pagliccia took some great safety precautions that led to his quick rescue such as having a radio and the SPOT GPS messenger and we recommend other boaters utilize similar safety equipment.”
SPOT GPS messengers are a personal satellite reporting device that can relay distress messages. For more information on boating safety visit www.uscgboating.org.
