Coast Guard Rescues Eight Boaters Stranded Off the Coast of Venice

Eight people were safely rescued late Saturday after their 26-foot vessel became disabled roughly 35 miles west of Venice, Florida, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The group had been stranded on the Gulf for hours before rescue crews from Station Cortez in Manatee County and Air Station Miami located and reached them.

The response began at 1:44 p.m. when a Venice Police Department officer reported that the boat had not returned as expected. Crews launched a search and, shortly after 9:30 p.m., an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft located the disabled vessel in conditions described as 2 to 3-foot seas and 5–10 knot winds. The aircraft helped guide the Station Cortez crew to the site.

All eight individuals and the boat were safely brought back to an inlet boat ramp in Venice with no reported injuries. Coast Guard officials emphasized the importance of notifying someone on land before heading out on the water, as well as the necessity of carrying essential safety equipment, including life jackets, VHF radios, signaling devices, and locator beacons.

The Coast Guard continues to urge mariners venturing offshore to complete a certified boating safety course and follow recommended precautions to ensure a safe trip on the water.