**Coast Guard Rescues Fisherman Clinging to Cooler Amid Hurricane Milton**

In a dramatic rescue operation, the U.S. Coast Guard saved a man adrift 30 miles off Longboat Key after Hurricane Milton left him in dire straits on Thursday. Newly released footage shows the man, who had been hanging onto a cooler, being airlifted by a Coast Guard helicopter in a scene officials are calling "a nightmare scenario."

The man, identified as the captain of the fishing vessel Capt. Dave, had initially reported issues on Monday, claiming his vessel was disabled roughly 20 miles off John's Pass. Both he and a crew member were rescued by a helicopter crew and taken to an air station at that time. The boat was left in the water, with plans to salvage it later.

Two days later, the Coast Guard received a notification from the boat's owner stating that the captain had returned to the vessel to make repairs and hadn’t come back. The captain managed to communicate via radio, reporting that a snagged rudder had rendered the boat inoperative during his attempt to return to port. Coast Guard officials advised him to wear a life jacket and stay with the vessel's emergency position indicating radio beacon, but they lost contact with him just before 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

Miraculously, search efforts from air stations in Clearwater and Miami located the captain around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. According to Lt. Cmdr. Dana Grady, Sector St. Petersburg's command center chief, the man's ability to survive the harrowing situation was significantly aided by the cooler he was holding onto.

Grady elaborated on the severe conditions the captain endured, noting, "To understand the severity of the hurricane conditions, we estimate he experienced approximately 75-90 mph winds, 20-25 foot seas, for an extended period of time to include overnight. He survived because of a life jacket, his emergency position indicating locator beacon, and a cooler."

The captain was subsequently transported to Tampa General Hospital for treatment. His incredible survival story serves as a reminder of both the unpredictability of nature and the crucial role of preparedness and emergency equipment.