Nighttime rescue effort saves stranded boaters at Ponce Inlet Jetty.

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News

Volusia County Beach Safety, the United States Coast Guard, and AIR 1 collaborated in a valiant rescue effort Sunday night after three boaters were left stranded on the rocks of the Ponce Inlet Jetty after their vessel crashed just before 10 p.m.

The Coast Guard responded to the distress call. However, the rough water conditions within the inlet prevented the Coast Guard boat from approaching the stranded boaters, marooned around 50 meters from the jetty's edge.

Amid the darkness, the Beach Safety team arrived at the jetty at approximately 10:38 p.m., ready to launch a daring rescue mission using their rescue ski to navigate through the waves around the jetty to coordinate their efforts with the Coast Guard - who were in position within the inlet - while AIR 1 played a crucial role by illuminating the jetty, casting a guiding light upon the stranded victims.

One of the boaters admitted to lacking the ability to swim, which caused Beach Safety to swim through the water to reach the stranded rocks on the north side of the Ponce Jetty. With meticulous precision, a rescue tube was secured around the distressed boater, ensuring her safety.

The rescue team made two additional return trips to the Ponce Jetty, employing the same meticulous technique to bring the remaining two stranded boaters to safety. The well-coordinated efforts of the Beach Safety team and the Coast Guard rescued all three boaters, who sustained only minor injuries.