Watch CBS News

Coast Guard Rescues Homestead Men From Capsized Boat

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Two Homestead boaters have quite a tale to tell after they were rescued from a capsized boat by the Coast Guard.

Around 2 a.m. Sunday the Coast Guard received a 911 distress call from two men who reported they were clinging to a capsized 28-foot shrimping vessel, approximately one-half mile off of Black Point Marine inside of Biscayne Bay.

The Coast Guard launched rescue boat and helicopter. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, and National Park Service also launched search boats.

Just after 3:30 a.m. the Coast Guard's chopper spotted the two men, identified as Alberto Leon-Corado and Alejandro Suarez, and stayed on site until they were picked up by a rescue boat. Both men were shaken but otherwise okay.

Leon-Corado and Suarez are employed by Dalton Marine of Homestead.

Suarez said they were shrimping on the boat when it was hit by two very large waves which capsized it.

"We were fishing when a big rough wave came and hit us.  When it hit us, a lot of water came into the boat and it kept rising.  Then another wave hit us and flipped the boat," said Suarez.

Suarez said it all happened so fast.

"We didn't have time to get our life jackets, there was no time for anything," said Suarez.

He said they were in the chilly water for three to four hours before they were rescued.  Suarez was very grateful.

"We were very grateful that they did their jobs," said Suarez.  "When I was in Venezuela, the same thing happened to me and emergency crews didn't rescue us."

The Coast Guard reminds boaters to always file a float plan with a friend or family member, have a VHF-FM radio and electronic indicating radio beacon on board while on the water.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.