Cancun, Q.R. — Four men who left Cancun on August 29 have been reported as rescued by elements of the Key West Coast Guard. The Key West Coast Guard Station reports the rescue of the four Tuesday after their fishing vessel, Aqua Limo II, became disabled.
The agency says Aqua Limo II and her crew were located off Key West Florida without food, water or fuel on board. The four men were transferred onto a Coast Guard vessel and brought to their station where waiting EMS personnel evaluated them. No injuries were reported.
The US Coast Guard says a Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations aircrew notified Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders Tuesday, at approximately 12:45 p.m., of a 40-foot fishing vessel adrift approximately 63 miles southwest of Key West.
“It is always good to see a happy ending during a search and rescue case all while bolstering our relationship with our neighboring countries,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Collin Snovell, coxswain at Station Key West. “We are just happy to help return the four men back home to their families.”
In their notice, they said “We remind mariners to check the weather before going out, tell someone where you are going and when you’ll be back, wear a life jacket, ensure your safety gear is up to date, and have a registered emergency position indicator radio beacon onboard.”
The four men, two from Isla Mujeres and two from Cancun, left the Puerto Juarez Los Pachos pier with plans to arrive in Progreso August 30. When they did not report, relatives informed port authorities, who issued a nautical advisory regarding the missing boat and crewmen.
According to the US Coast Guard, an aircraft spotted the drifting boat 63 miles southwest of Key West on the afternoon of September 7.