STEINHATCHEE, Fla. — U.S. Coast Guard crews rescued three men off the coast of Steinhatchee, according to officials.
The rescue happened Saturday after the three men, Adam Simpson, Scott Snow and Dillon McCrea, were left stranded when their 21-foot vessel broke down from an electrical issue, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a news release.
Officials said the men were reported missing around 8 a.m. Saturday, a day after launching from the Steinhatchee River Inn and Marina.
An Air Station Clearwater Jayhawk helicopter located the vessel with all three men on board around 1 p.m. A Coast Guard boat crew was able to take the group to safety while the disabled vessel was towed back to the marina.
"The key to any search and rescue case is accurate and reliable information paired with safety equipment," said Lt. Cmdr. Dana Grady, a search and rescue mission coordinator at Sector St. Petersburg. "The Coast Guard strongly encourages you to provide a float plan with someone you trust before taking your boat out on the water."
The successful search covered around 350 square nautical miles in 2-3 foot seas, according to the Coast Guard.
