Florida Family Races Out to Save 22-Year-Old Diver Swept Away in Ocean Current
A 22-year-old was rescued by his family after getting caught in a powerful current while diving off the coast of Key West, Florida, on January 19.
Priscilla Gartenmayer recorded the moment her cousin Dylan Gartenmayer was pulled to safety after swimming about two miles and floating on buoys near a reef.
Priscilla Gartenmayer told Storyful her boyfriend received a call around 5:45 pm from a family friend who explained that her cousin had gone diving with two friends and had been missing for two hours.
“We were told that he went down for a dive and did not resurface. So we were thinking the worst,” she said.
Gartenmayer’s family immediately jumped into action and hopped on her grandparents’ boat to search for Dylan at his last known coordinates, putting them near the Western Sambo, a reef located off the Boca Chica Key. She said they knew if Dylan saw the reef, he would swim to it.
“Before we even completely stopped the boat to start looking, Joel Cruz [Gartenmayer’s boyfriend] spotted Dylan near the channel marker that marked that reef,” she said. “The joy we felt in that moment is indescribable.”
The video shows Dylan being hugged by his family as he’s pulled aboard.
“Shortly after, the Coast Guard came and picked him up to check his vitals. His core temperature was slightly low, but besides that he was perfectly fine.” Gartenmayer said. “We later were able to pick up Dylan from the Coast Guard station and bring him home.” Credit: Priscilla Gartenmayer via Storyful
Video Transcript
- Yes, come on everybody, it's Dylan.
- Come on.
- Oh, my God.
- Dylan.
- Oh, my God.
- Oh God.
- Oh Dylan, Dylan.
- You look amazing.
- Oh, my God, Dylan. Oh.
- Yes, come on everybody, it's Dylan.
- Come on.
- Oh, my God.
- Dylan.
- Oh, my God.
- Oh God.
- Oh Dylan, Dylan.
- You look amazing.
- Oh, my God, Dylan. Oh.
- Yes, come on everybody, it's Dylan.
- Come on.
- Oh, my God.
- Dylan.
- Oh, my God.
- Oh God.
- Oh Dylan, Dylan.
- Oh, my God, Dylan. Oh.
