2 People, Dog Rescued from Fla. Buoy After Boat Hit Cruise Ship Wake and Sank, Police Say

Mar. 15, 2025

Scene of Florida boat rescue.Photo:HSCO/X

HSCO/X

Police in Florida say two people and a dog were rescued from a buoy after their boat hit a cruise ship’s wake and sank.

The rescue took place on the evening of Saturday, Jan. 4, according to a news release from theHillsborough County Sheriff’s Office(HCSO).

Crews with the HCSO and Coast Guard soon found the trio clinging to the buoy, which they swam to after their boat hit the wake near Gadsden Point, police said.

They also contacted fellow pilot Matthew Riley, who helped look for the boaters. Riley said “the sun had already set” as they started searching.

“They were basically like shadows in the water," he recalled. “Though I was on scene looking for them, I was afraid of running them over as well.”

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The two people pulled from the buoy were subsequently transported to Tampa General Hospital, according to the HCSO. Their injuries have not been disclosed.

“Our team’s coordinated response with other agencies led to the successful rescue of two people who desperately needed help,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. “We will continue to work together to protect lives on our waterways.”

It is unclear which cruise ship was involved in creating the wake that apparently caused the smaller boat to crash and sink.

source: people.com