Paddleboarding Kids Rescued More Than a Mile Off Florida Coast

Two minors were rescued in the ocean off Brevard County, Florida, on March 23, clinging to their paddleboard more than a mile offshore, authorities said.

Footage released by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, taken from a helicopter, shows a boat approaching the youths.

“When strong winds pushed two juvenile swimmers more than a mile offshore, beach authorities contacted the FWC, U.S. Coast Guard, Brevard County Sheriff and Brevard County Fire Rescue,” Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wrote on Facebook.

“The FWC Lieutenant Lee was about 30 miles away and quickly engaged our 38’ patrol vessel, ‘Seahawk,’ into action battling three-to-five-foot seas. FWC Captain Bonds reported that the swimmers were approximately 1.2 miles offshore and continuing to drift further and further out to sea. Two rescue personnel were deployed from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Security Forces helicopter as Lt. Lee arrived on scene to rescue the two distressed swimmers clinging to a paddleboard.

The youths, whose ages were not shared, were medically assessed and reunited safely with their family, according to the commission. Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission via Storyful