October 11th 2024.
A man found himself in a perilous situation amidst the chaos of Hurricane Milton. He was discovered floating 30 miles off the coast of Florida, desperately clinging onto a cooler for dear life. The storm had wreaked havoc and left destruction in its wake, but for this man, it was nothing short of a nightmare.
Thankfully, a US Coast Guard helicopter was able to locate and rescue him on Thursday. The video footage of the rescue is a testament to the bravery and determination of the coast guard team. The man was found near Longboat Key, a town along the central-west coast of the state, as reported by ABC News.
It was revealed that the coast guard had been in contact with the man the day before the hurricane made landfall. However, they lost communication with him at 6:45pm that night. The severity of the situation was evident as Hurricane Milton unleashed its fury with winds of 75-90 mph and waves as high as 20-25 feet. It was a miracle that the man survived, and according to Lt. Cmdr. Dana Grady, Sector St. Petersburg's command center chief, it was all thanks to his life jacket, emergency position indicating locator beacon, and the cooler he held onto.
The man's rescue was a glimmer of hope amidst the devastation caused by Hurricane Milton. The storm had struck the region as a Category 3 hurricane, bringing with it a storm surge, strong winds, and heavy rain. The night was spent in shelters for about 80,000 people, while thousands more fled after mandatory evacuation orders were issued across 15 Florida counties, which has a total population of 7.2 million.
Tragically, it is believed that at least 16 people lost their lives in the hurricane. However, despite the destruction and devastation, many were relieved that Hurricane Milton was not as catastrophic as initially feared. The storm spared Tampa from a direct hit, and the anticipated storm surge never materialized. It was a reminder of the resilience and strength of the people in the face of natural disasters.
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