A 74-year-old boater who disappeared off the coast of Florida was found in his vessel drifting across international waters.
David Diehl was aboard the Stargazer, a 30-foot catamaran, when he was last heard from on December 4, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) off Fort Myers in southwest Florida.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, Diehl was spotted by a cruise ship that reported the boat was disabled and drifting in waters 30 miles (50 kilometers) off the coast of Cuba.
Video from the floating ship showed Diehl on board as a rescue crew approached him.
Diehl had been adrift for two weeks before he was found. The Coast Guard sent an alert on December 12, but by December 14 there was still no word on his whereabouts.
Diehl was found ‘in good health’ despite his terrifying two weeks at sea.
The U.S. Coast Guard says its story highlights the importance of being as vigilant as possible.
“Tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back so your loved ones don’t have to worry during the holidays,” a spokesperson said in a reminder.
David Diehl was aboard the Stargazer, a 30-foot catamaran, when he was last heard from on December 4, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) off Fort Myers in southwest Florida.
Diehl had been adrift for two weeks before he was found. The Coast Guard sent an alert on December 12, but by December 14 there was still no word on his whereabouts
While Diehl was found “in good health,” his terrifying two weeks floating in the ocean highlight the dangers
Diehl’s story comes just weeks after the Coast Guard conducted a frantic search for five people in Alaska who went missing after a fishing boat capsized.
The ship capsized off Point Couverden in early December, before the search was called off after almost 24 hours.
The search spanned more than 105 miles following a distress call from those on board.
The families of Travis Kapp, Jacob Hannah, Alex Ireland, Emilio “EJ” Celaya and Michael Brown spoke out to remember their loved ones.
“We are all so devastated,” Celaya’s aunt Stephanie Molt said KTUU TV.
Hannah’s mother, Carol Hannah, told the newspaper: “I couldn’t be mad at him because that’s what he lived for: to go to Alaska and fish,” Carol said.
“So he did what he wanted all his life. I feel very proud because Alaska helped him become the man he was.”
Kapp’s partner’s sister, Stephanie, said Kapp “had three passions in life; being a great father to Paige, his new blended family with Stephanie and her daughter Alice, and running a commercial fishing operation.”
She added: “We are beyond heartbroken. We love you so much EJ. Sending lots of love and strength to the families of all the other crew members.”