The U.S. Coast Guard said it rescued three people who abandoned their boat and were clinging to floating seat cushions off St. Lucie Inlet Wednesday.
The federal agency received a distress call saying that the 27-foot La Dulce Vida was taking on water and that the three people were forced to abandon it. A 45-foot response boat was quickly launched from Coast Guard Station Fort Pierce, and the threesome were found wearing lifejackets in the water about 20 miles east of St. Lucie Inlet, the Coast Guard said.
The rescued boaters were later released with no reported injuries.
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"Preemptive safety executed by the three individuals played a crucial role in their successful rescue," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Brodhead, who was the coxswain aboard the response boat. "Having their lifejackets on and hanging onto a seat cushion allowed us valuable time to find them and prevented them from being in any further danger."
