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Coast Guard Rescues Brooksville Man

Coast Guard | Rescue | Aripeka

He ran aground about a mile west of Aripeka, the Coast Guard said.

ARIPEKA – The Coast Guard rescued a Brooksville man from a 25-foot boat about 1 mile west of Aripeka today (April 21).

Rescued was Jeffrey Statkus, 55, from Brooksville.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg received a 911 relay from the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office about 10:41 p.m. Friday (April 20) saying Statkus ran aground and was in need of emergency assistance.

A 24-foot Response Boat-Small boat crew from Coast Guard Station Yankeetown and a Hernando County Sheriff’s Office marine unit responded, but were unable to help because of the location and depth of water.

A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew was launched at 1:44 a.m. The aircrew hoisted Statkus at 2:25 a.m. and took him to Air Station Clearwater.

No injuries were reported.

“Fortunately, Statkus had his life jacket on and was also equipped with a flare and a spot light,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Matt Bonneau, operation unit controller at Sector St. Petersburg. “This was a successful rescue because he properly prepared himself with life saving safety gear before he got underway.”

Photo is screen grab from video. Video courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Coast Guard | Rescue | Aripeka | Tampabay News

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