- New footage shows the US Coast Guard rescuing a man and his dog in the Gulf of Mexico.
- The man's vessel became disabled and started taking on water during Hurricane Helene.
A dramatic new video shows the US Coast Guard rescuing a man and his dog in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday after their boat started sinking during Hurricane Helene.
The Coast Guard's Seventh District, which covers the southeastern US, said on social media that it saved a man and his canine companion after their 36-foot-long sailboat became disabled and started taking on water around 25 miles off Florida's Sanibel Island.
The Coast Guard shared a photo of the pair that was taken from the water with a Sikorsky MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter hovering in the background. The service then published a video showing the rescue mission unfolding.
#Breaking @USCG Air Station #Clearwater saved a man & his dog, Thurs., during Hurricane #Helene after his 36-ft sailboat became disabled & started taking on water approximately 25 miles off Sanibel Island. Call the #USCG for help on VHF Ch. 16 or dial 911 for storm distress. #SAR pic.twitter.com/DtdyouxfMN
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) September 27, 2024
The first-person-view footage captured by a Coast Guard aviation survival technician — commonly known as a rescue swimmer — shows the civilian vessel bobbing around in rough seas.
The man can be seen on board tossing his dog, wearing a life jacket, into the water before they're both hoisted into the helicopter.
#Final The man & his dog were reportedly in good medical condition. They were brought to Southwest Florida International airport to meet with EMS. The vessel is adrift and disabled.
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) September 27, 2024
Recorded by a camera worn by AST2 Hudson, edited by Lt. Cmdr. Kellerman, AirSta Clearwater pic.twitter.com/3ehoIVqlLj
It is unclear how long the man and his dog were at sea. A Seventh District spokesperson told Business Insider that the Coast Guard received a mayday call from the vessel at around 11 a.m. local time, and the hoist was completed shortly before 2 p.m.
Both the man and the dog "were reportedly in good medical condition" and were brought to Southwest Florida International Airport to meet with medical services, the Coast Guard wrote in a follow-up post on X on Friday.
"The vessel is adrift and disabled," the Coast Guard said.
It is not uncommon for the Coast Guard to carry out rescue missions during hurricanes, but each case is treated differently. The Seventh District spokesperson said that the crew evaluated the situation for this specific incident and felt comfortable enough with the decision to proceed.
The spokesperson said as of 10:15 a.m. local time on Friday, the Coast Guard has rescued or assisted seven people and three pets — including the ones on Thursday — during Hurricane Helene.
Helene, a Category 4 hurricane, made landfall in Florida on Thursday night after blitzing up through the Gulf of Mexico. As it continues to move inland, the storm has caused life-threatening flooding, heavy rain, and high winds.