A terrifying day on the water turned into a dramatic rescue off the Florida coast after a pontoon boat suddenly flipped, throwing nearly a dozen people into the water.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, deputies with the Marine Unit rushed to the scene near Fort Myers Beach just after 2 p.m. Tuesday after getting reports of an overturned pontoon boat.
And they got there fast.
Officials said the Marine Unit arrived within just three minutes of the initial call, racing to reach the people who had been tossed into the water when the boat overturned.
By the time deputies reached the scene, all 11 people who had been on board had already been pulled from the water safely with help from several good Samaritans nearby.
Still, the situation could have ended much worse.
Two of the rescued passengers were taken to a hospital with minor injuries, while the others were reported to be unharmed.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office later released video of the dramatic rescue, showing the frantic aftermath as first responders and civilians worked together to get everyone out safely.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:
As for what caused the frightening incident, authorities said it appears strong winds and a large wave likely caused the pontoon boat to flip.
The overturned boat was later towed away from the area.
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