Two brothers were rescued on Monday after their boat capsized while they were fishing the night before, authorities said.
The two men had gone out to fish on Sunday night off Key Biscayne, when their boat took on water and capsized around 2 a.m. They both went into the water and swam to the shore. One of them got to the beach near Crandon Park, while the other was still in the water floating on the top of a cooler.
The brother who made it to the beach called for help, and by 9 a.m., the U.S. Coast Guard rescued the other man.
“He’s fine. He’s just really cold right now, and the skin from being in the water too long," said his girlfriend, Vanessa Florido. He was dehydrated but was being given water to drink, she added.
Both men were taken to Mercy Hospital and expected to be OK.
"The chances for survival are greatly increased when boaters wear their flotation devices, along with using float plans describing your intentions," said Petty Officer 1st Class Abiola Ideraabdullah.
The cooler lid was crucial for the one brother's survival, Lt. Commander Joseph Abeyta said.
“Had he not had the cooler, had he just had a little plastic bag with his stuff in it, I’m not too confident that that individual would have survived this morning,” Abeyta said.
Authorities are investigating the vessel's sinking.
