COCOA, Fla. — Six people, including three children, were rescued from a sinking boat in the Indian River Lagoon, according to the Cocoa Police Department.
- 6 people rescued from sinking boat
- Boat's motor lost power during rough conditions
- No injuries were reported
Officers responded to an area between State Road 520 and State Road 528 after receiving a call about a boat “taking on water.” The 16-foot jon boat was found adrift in the middle of the channel.
The boat’s motor lost power during rough conditions, police said.
A police boat was deployed to assist the people in the sinking boat.
Several people in the area also rushed to help with a jet ski and a pontoon boat.
Ludwig Wikkling was on the pontoon boat.
“Police came and told us there was a helicopter hovering over a boat that had a few people in there,” Wikkling said.
The jet ski operator pulled two children from the sinking boat and took them to shore.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also responded to the scene. FWC officers rescued the other occupants from the boat.
No injuries were reported, police said.
Wikkling has this advice for boaters, especially with rough conditions on the water.
“If you are thinking about going out, check the weather," he said. "If there is a hint of a storm coming in, don’t go out there with a small boat."
FWC is conducting an investigation.
Spectrum News 13 reporter Matthew Fernandez contributed to this story.