CLEARWATER, Fla.,None — Three Orlando boaters who were reported missing since Thursday are back in Central Florida on Saturday.
According to the Coast Guard, brothers Michael and Edward Lyons, along with their friend, set out aboard a 22-foot pleasure craft Wednesday afternoon in Tarpon Springs to go deep sea fishing, and were due to return Thursday evening.
Investigators said when the men did not return, a family member reported the missing boaters to the Coast Guard in St. Petersburg.
The men were found 50 miles out in the Gulf. WFTV reporter Drew Petrimoulx talked to Michael Lyons on Saturday, who said technical failures caused them to get stuck.
"The motor konked out and we couldn’t start it," Michael Lyons said.
But that wasn’t the only problem. The brothers left the satellite phone back on shore.
“We were loading up the truck one of the guys picked up the wrong suitcase they look almost alike," Michael Lyons said. He said the boat radio fell overboard too and there was no cell phone service, so they had no form of communication.
Overnight the trio had to spread out on the boat to make sure it didn't tip over from the seven- to eight-foot waves. On Friday morning they made a flag and put markers in the water and eventually, the Coast Guard found the stranded men after launching a massive search.
“We were just ecstatic, just you know, it was a tough couple of days,” said mother Loretta Lyons.
“You can't explain it unless you were a mother, it was just terrible,” Loretta Lyons said.
The Coast Guard launched a massive search on the water and in the air. Their brother rented a plane to search for himself.
“You know, God is good,” Loretta Lyons said.
Michael Lyons said he still had what he caught on the trip and he’ll be back on the water as soon as he can plan another trip.
WFTV
