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Fishing
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Medical emergency
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Normal conditions
Near-Fatal Boating Accident in Marathon: A Father's Life Saved by Sons' Swift Actions
24.707794916894°N, -81.001392364502°W
Posted on August 15, 2024 by Jason
What happened?
On July 20th 2024, I planned a family vacation to celebrate my retirement. We rented a house on a canal in Marathon and brought along our 32′ Fountain center console boat, equipped with twin 300 Mercury Verado engines.
During the early morning hours, we had issues with the batteries not holding a charge, so we replaced two of the three batteries.
Around noon, my three sons and I headed offshore to a reef southeast of Marathon for some spearfishing. The seas were 1-2 feet, and the underwater visibility was about 10-15 feet—far from ideal conditions.
I anchored the boat near the reef and left the motors running due to the battery issue, intending not to stay offshore long because of the weather. I jumped off the starboard side of the boat to check the visibility and then immediately moved to the aft end on the starboard side to get back on board. As I approached, the starboard motor unexpectedly engaged at low speed and struck the left side of my thigh, causing a deep laceration.
I quickly climbed into the boat and saw the severity of the wound.
Two of my sons immediately recognized how serious the injury was and fashioned a tourniquet from a dock line, placing it on my upper left thigh to prevent blood loss. My other son activated the GlobalFix V6 EPIRB and used the UHF radio to call for assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Within an hour, I was at the dock being treated by Marathon Fire Rescue. I was then airlifted to Jackson Hospital in Miami, where I underwent extensive surgery on my left leg.
I have fully recovered, aside from a nasty scar, and I owe my life to the EPIRB and the quick thinking of my boys!
Thank you ACR!
Words of wisdom
I was having issues with my batteries prior to going off the coast of Marathon. I left the twin Mercury Verado’s running while I jumped in the water to look at the reef. While in the water the starboard motor was engaged accidentally in reverse at low speed. As I surfaced the prop hit the outside of my left thigh. My advise “always turn the motors off while people are in the water around your boat!” I knew better!!
Thank you note
I was diving off the coast of Marathon Key and was hit on the left leg (thigh) by my starboard motor as I climbed back into the boat. While I was in the water the starboard motor was accidentally engaged in low gear. My son immediately activated the EPIRB Global FIX V4 and began utilizing the UHF radio for Help, while my other two sons made a make shift tourniquet. Within minutes we had the Coast Guard over head and Florida Fish and Wildlife assisting us to shore. I was airlifted to Jackson’s Hospital in Miami and survived the accident. We credit the EPIRB Global Fix and the quick thinking of my sons for saving my life.
Rescue location
PX5X+4C Marathon, FL, USA
Rescue team
Other
ACR GlobalFix V6 EPIRB with Return Link Service and Mobile App
Go to product details$689.95 – $794.95