Two boaters are safe after their vessel sank in the Intracoastal Waterway on July 1, thanks to a quick response from St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit deputies and a life-saving decision to wear life jackets. The Marine Unit responded to reports of a small motorized boat taking on water and becoming submerged. Body-worn camera footage captured the rescue as it unfolded.
Both occupants ended up in the water when their boat went down, but they were wearing life jackets that kept them afloat while help arrived. Marine Unit deputies quickly located the pair in the water and safely brought them aboard their patrol vessel. The boaters were then transported back to the boat ramp without any injuries reported. "This incident serves as an important reminder that wearing a life jacket can save your life," the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post. "We're grateful this call ended safely and proud of the swift response by our Marine Unit deputies who are always ready to answer the call."