Duke, one of our founding members and past President of United Waterfowlers - Florida (UW-F) was literally a hero in this story, he and a few of his friends, some also members of UW-F and the Officer at the refuge were all heros IMO...here's Duke's story he posted on the UW-F website public forum:
I'm sure this will wake a few folks up out there. I had been in contact w/ George Leath throughout the morning and we were relaying scouting reports. At 1 pm he and I talked and told each other that we had VHF radios and to be on Ch 72. I had just crossed the Mosquito Lagoon to the safe side. He was heading over to the beach. It was 2-3ft then.
I met up with fellow ducker and UW member Gary Jensen. He and I looked around on the Indian Rv Impoundments. After he mentioned that he planned to meet George and George's partner John at Beakon 42 boat ramp after the scout. We arrived there @ 4:30 pm. Waited and were soon met by Eddie Shea and two other friends. We all had boats, but did not launch because the day was done. The winds were approx 30+ MPH and by now the seas on the Lagoon were 3-4ft.
We tried to contact george by VHF. No luck. thought that maybe our radios were bad, we contacted the Haulover Bridge. They had copy of us and tried to hail George. No luck.
We didn't like the way things we going. We were standing at the ramp near dark now when one of us heard a faint whistle. A repeated trill from a police whistle coming from the Lagoon. It continued and put us on the alarm that it was George or John. We launched a boat in the dark and Gary and I made it to the whistle coming from a spoil island. When we arrived 5:30-6 pm., we found John soaking wet, in shock and sever hypothremia. We got him aboard and back to the ramp. Stripped him, put him in a sleeping bag, put him in the truck with heater blasting. He was able to tell us the location of George who was with the sunken boat along with the dog. We called Coast Guard 6:15 and emergency vehicles and personel came 7:30 without a boat .
Gary went to the open water to look for George, but it was too ruff. Rich (Gary's friend) and I went back to spoil Island, but no George. we returned to ramp.
I won't go into much detail, but Coast Gaurd, KSC and Brevard Co rescue could not get it together enough to get George from the sunken boat because they were not drilled or prepared for such event. An hour and half later Jane from USFWS LEO showed with boat and talked with us, the duck hunters to determine where George was. She took control and with her command of the situation, she was able to locate George. George sank at 4:30 and he was not retrieved untill 9-9:30.
George and John were held at the hospital for two days and release this afternoon. The dog did not survive.
Lessons learned.
Leave a float plan with someone. Wear a PDF at all times. Have a whistle. Try not to leave vessel if it is still floting some what. Have a waterproof flashlight on you person and carry a waterproof VHF on your person. Do not cross the Lagoon in 30 mph winds.
Duke
