Flares play part in Florida rescue
26/06/2023
Flares played an important part in the rescue by a good Samaritan party charter boat in Florida of six people whose boat capsized in bad weather.
Leveral Raffield, captain of Family Tradition, rescued the six people who were standing on the top of the submerged hull of their 24-foot Aquasport in Apalachicola Bay.
Senior Officer Travis Basford, public information officer for the FWC Division of Law Enforcement’s Northwest Region, said the boat capsized in 60 to 70 mph winds, around 20 miles offshore, one day in June.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and U.S. Coast Guard responded, but Family Tradition, which was six miles away, arrived first and brought the six safety back to Scipio Creek Marina, reports the Apalachicola Times.
The captain was well-prepared, said Mr Raffield. “We could see his flares when we got within three miles from him.
“They were all on top of the boat when we got there and we just went over and got them one at a time off the boat. It was a good blessing, we got every one of them out safe.”
The stock image of Apalachicola is by Diane Delaney and the Federal Highway Administration
