Claris Law Legal Blogging Community

Name:

E-mail:

Phone Number:

Zip Code:

Your Question:

Editor: Rod Sullivan
Profession: Maritime Attorney

Category: Safety at Sea

On Friday, June 9, 2006 a man and a woman left to go airboating in the Florida Everglades. When they failed to return, a group of 6 of their friends went searching for them on Saturday in a second airboat. When they too got lost, or ran out of gas, they called 911 at about 1 a.m. on Sunday, June 11.

The second airboat was able to give GPS coordinates but because of the storm clutter from Tropical Storm Alberto, the rescue helicopter from the Broward Sheriff's Office was unable to locate them until 0530 Sunday morning.

At 1000 a.m. a helicopter from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spotted the first airboat. A Miami-Dade Fire Rescue helicopter participated in hauling the people out of the Everglades and taking them to BSO's fire station on Alligator Alley, from which they were released.