Five boaters were plucked from Tampa Bay waters after a dramatic marine rescue near Florida’s Spoil Island. 🌐 #News #TampaFL #Florida #Rescue
TAMPA, FL — A boating emergency near Spoil Island in Florida triggered a swift, coordinated rescue effort earlier this month, as deputies and good Samaritans raced to save five people from a sinking vessel in the middle of Tampa Bay.
Trouble on the Water
The incident unfolded on April 5 when a distress call reached Hillsborough County’s 911 center. The report detailed an overturned boat in the waters surrounding Spoil Island. Authorities quickly dispatched the sheriff’s Marine Section to the scene.
By the time deputies arrived, a group of nearby boaters had already jumped into action. The sheriff’s bodycam footage, released Friday, captured the intense moments as rescue efforts played out. One deputy can be seen tossing a rope to a stranded individual gripping the edge of the sinking vessel. The others had been retrieved moments earlier by passing boaters who stopped to assist.
Teamwork Saves Lives
Thanks to the combined efforts of law enforcement and everyday citizens, all five individuals aboard the ill-fated boat were safely brought ashore. They were taken to the Williams Park boat ramp for evaluation and were reported to be in good condition…