JACKSONVILLE, FL– A 25-year-old Florida man who was reported missing on Friday is recovering after he was rescued from a partially submerged Jon boat by The United States Coast Guard.
The family of Charles Gregory was said to have contacted the Coast Guard Sector in Jacksonville after he took the boat out from the Lighthouse Park Boat Ramp boat out on Thursday and failed to return by Friday night.
Saturday morning, Gregory was eventually located by an HC-130 Hercules airplane aircrew who then contacted Coast Guard Cutter Coho to pick him up.
Gregory was transferred to emergency medical services at the Vilano Beach Pier.
While the Coast Guard says they are pleased by the outcome of the rescue mission, they also highlighted the importance of having safety gear onboard:
“We are pleased about the outcome in this case and I would like to thank all of our local and state partners who were heavily involved in searching for Charles and bringing him home to his family,” said Cmdr. Nick Barrow, Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville search and rescue mission coordinator. “While this case resulted in rescuing Charles from a life-threatening situation, it highlights the importance of having safety gear onboard and being prepared for the worst. If you plan to head out on the water, remember to have a life jacket, VHF marine grade radio, signaling devices, and an emergency personal locator beacon to contact first responders in case you are in need of assistance.”