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Fisherman Rescued By Family After 24 Hours Of Treading Water

CRYSTAL RIVER (CBSMiami/AP) – A fisherman, who was treading water in the Gulf of Mexico for almost 24 hours, was rescued Thursday by a family out scalloping.

Caught in a bad storm, Efstathios "Steve" Moumouris, without a life jacket, was tossed from his boat Wednesday afternoon.

Moumouris, Tampa television station WTSP reports, treaded water for nearly 24 hours.

Todd Hoy and his family, having heard about the missing fisherman, kept an eye out for him while scalloping in the Gulf on Thursday.

The family spotted 51-year-old Moumouris about seven miles offshore of Crystal River.

According to Hoy, Moumouris was fairly coherent when they got him on board. When the family called Moumouris's wife, she said his rescue was a miracle.

Moumouris suffered from dehydration and was taken to Seven Rivers Medical Center in Crystal River.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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