Coast Guard rescues men from capsized boat near Florida Keys

MIAMI — Two men were back on dry land Thursday after a dramatic helicopter rescue from their capsized boat off the Florida Keys.

The men, who were not identified, were sailing a 37-foot boat when it capsized and they were forced to activate an emergency beacon, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

At about 8 a.m. Wednesday, a Coast Guard helicopter located the men about 35 miles northwest of Dry Tortugas.

The men were hoisted into the helicopter without incident and were found to be uninjured from their ordeal, the Coast Guard said.

A video of the rescue shows the men as they are pulled into the helicopter and flown from the scene.

The pair was taken to Key West International Airport, where members of Monroe County Fire Rescue were waiting, officials said.

The Coast Guard credited the boat’s Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon for the quick rescue.

“The sailing vessel’s EPIRB helped direct our rescue crew to their location, saving critical time,” Coast Guard spokesman Chief Petty Officer Nathan Webb said. “This is a great example of how an EPIRB can alert the Coast Guard when someone is in distress.

“The minutes or hours it saves could be the difference between life and death.”

Cox Media Group