Mother rescued after storm separates her from family off Cedar Key

CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) — Coast Guard crews helped locate a missing mother after she was separated from her husband and child while paddleboarding off Cedar Key.

Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders were contacted by the Levy County Sheriff’s Office around 10:41 a.m. about the woman’s disappearance.

The woman’s husband reported he lost sight of her before a thunderstorm forced him to beach himself and his child on Dog Island.

A short time later, the Coast Guard was able to locate the woman and reunite the family at Cedar Key Boat Ramp.

“We were scanning the water with binoculars when we spotted the bright orange life jacket she was wearing,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Elizabeth Knight, Aids to Navigation Team St. Petersburg. “She appeared to be exhausted from paddling against the weather, and once she saw us she waved her paddle in the air and started calling for help.”

None of the family members were injured.

“Regardless of their assigned task Coast Guard crews are always ready to save mariners at sea, in this case, while conducting routine maintenance, our aids to navigation team was able to assist in the rescue of a paddleboarder who was believed to be in distress,” said Capt. Michael P. Kahle, commander of Sector St. Petersburg. “I want to thank our Coast Guard men and women conducting aids to navigation duties nationwide, and I’m glad that our crews were able to reunite this mother with her husband and child.”

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