Good Samaritan Saves 7 Boaters After Boat Sinks in Florida

Seven young men owe their lives to a stranger who happened to be in the right place at the right time on Memorial Day in Florida's Indian River Lagoon.

What started as a holiday boating trip near Bird Island turned scary when the group ran out of gas in one of the worst possible spots. Mike Honcho, one of the boaters, knew immediately they were in trouble.

"That's where the wind is the absolute worst, and it was honestly the worst place to run out of gas," Honcho said. But an empty fuel tank was just the beginning of their problems.

Strong winds whipped up waves while the boat's bilge pump, which removes water from the vessel, stopped working. Water poured over the sides with no way to drain it.

"Water is just coming over little by little, and you have no way to get it out," Honcho recalled. "Eventually, you are going to sink."

The boat went under, plunging all seven men into the choppy river. Most had life jackets, and they clutched their cell phones to call 911 while struggling to stay afloat in the cold, windy conditions.

The Brevard County Sheriff's Office launched their STAR helicopter, which spotted the swimmers from above. But a civilian boater reached them first, pulling all seven men aboard just as darkness began to fall.

"We were just cold, and it was windy," said Kalob Bertrand, another member of the group. "As soon as we got put on that boat, that's when it got dark and we were like, 'Okay, we're saved.'"

Sunny's Take

Sometimes the best rescue comes from an everyday person who simply sees someone in need and acts. This Good Samaritan didn't wait for official help to arrive. They saw seven people struggling in the water and made the choice to bring them aboard, getting everyone to safety before the sun set completely.

Deputies and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers met the group at shore. Despite spending half an hour bobbing in rough waters watching their boat disappear beneath the surface, everyone walked away without injuries.

The experience hasn't scared the friends away from the water forever. In fact, they're already talking about their next boating adventure.

"We didn't learn our lesson," Honcho joked. His friend Bertrand quickly added, "Maybe bring a working bilge pump this time."

Honcho expressed what mattered most: "I'm grateful they all. We all made it out."