Coast Guard rescues 2 from aground personal watercrafts

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Tampa Bay Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Tampa Bay 305-965-4672 PA Detachment Tampa Bay online newsroom

Coast Guard rescues 2 from aground personal watercrafts  

CLEARWATER BEACH, Fla. — The Coast Guard rescued two missing boaters Sunday after their personal watercrafts ran aground near North Clearwater Beach.

Rescued were Anthony Grine, 27, and his girlfriend Chyanne Hatcher, 20, from Ohio.

A Station Sand Key watchstander received a call at 9 p.m. from Hatcher's mother, Tonia, reporting the couple left from East Shore Resort at 7 p.m. aboard personal watercrafts and had yet to return.

A Station Sand Key 29-foot Response Boat Small-II boatcrew was launched and located the couple stranded with their personal watercraft aground in shallow water. The two Ohio natives stated they ran aground after going past shallow water and hazard signs.

The boatcrew transported the two people to shore. There were no reported injuries. 

Tonia Hatcher stated the couple are planning to take a boating safety course Monday, and wants all boaters to pay close attention to signs and tides. "Keep your eyes open even when having fun," said Tonia. "Respect the ocean."

The personal watercraft were retrieved Monday. The couple plan to take their entire vacation party of 25 people back to the area to educate everyone on hazard signs and shallow water.

"In this area, you can quickly go from being in 6-foot water to being in shallow water," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Ashley Esteves, officer of the day at Station Sand Key. "We ask all boaters to research the area before getting underway."

Boaters can check tides, charts and weather through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.

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-USCG-