Man Treads Water For 20 Hours, Rescued By Coast Guard

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TAMPA (CBSMiami/AP) — A former Navy pilot who tread water for nearly a day in the Gulf of Mexico after he fell out of his boat without a lifejacket on.

William Durden's wife called the authorities Wednesday night after the 61-year-old didn't return from a planned fishing trip. His boat was later located near St. Martins Keys, about 60 miles north of Tampa.

Durden was spotted by a Coast Guard plane Thursday morning, and a helicopter responded. Video posted by the Coast Guard on Twitter shows a rescue swimmer jumping in to retrieve Durden.

Durden was found about 17 miles off the coast of Aripeka, after being in the water for 20 hours.

The Coast Guard says Durden told them he was trying to grab a fishing pole while the boat was in gear when he went into the water. The Reno, Nevada, resident credits his Navy training for his survival.

The Coast Guard says Durden is physically fine after the ordeal.

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