A Miami man died and his fishing companion was found clinging to a cooler after their 25-foot boat sank in the waters off the Lower Florida Keys.
Lt. j.g. Kate Webb says crew members aboard a Coast Guard cutter spotted 37-year-old Russell Leon Bryant of Summerland Key in the water Saturday morning and rescued him.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Bobby Dube tells The Key West Citizen that 68-year-old Arthur Garel was found unresponsive in the water shortly afterward. Dube says Garel was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to Webb and Dube, the boat began taking on water and sank in 600 feet of water before the men could radio for help or put on life jackets.
Webb says the boat sank in rough seas.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
