The Coast Guard rescued a woman who had gone paddleboarding in Florida and lost contact with her family. According to a news release from the US Coast Guard, the mother was with her family off Cedar Key on July 9, 2024, when a downpour hit. At 10:41 a.m., the woman’s husband called to report that he had lost sight of his wife due to the storm, prompting the Levy County Sheriff’s Office dispatch to notify the Coast Guard Sector Petersburg.

He had brought his daughter and himself to safety on a Dog Island beach. Fortunately, the Coast Guard discovered the missing woman at about 11 a.m. After her family reunited with her, they were all carried to Cedar Key Boat Ramp by boat. “We were scanning the water with binoculars when we spotted the bright orange life jacket she was wearing,” Petty Officer 3rd Class Elizabeth Knight said in a news release.

“She appeared to be fatigued from paddling against the wind, and when she noticed us, she swung her paddle in the air and began pleading for assistance. “Regardless of their assigned task, Coast Guard crews are always ready to save mariners at sea,” Captain Michael P. Kahle, Commander of Sector St. Petersburg, said. “In this case, while conducting routine maintenance, our aids to navigation team was able to assist in the rescue of a paddleboarder who was believed to be in distress.” There were no injuries during the storm or the rescue.