Teens Survive 16 Hours Lost at Sea!

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The coast is clear for two Floridian teens.

2 days following the rescue of friends Avery Bryan and Eva Aponte, who are both 16 years old, after being adrift in the Florida coast for more than 16 hours, Levy County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Scott Tummond shared their harrowing ordeal at sea.

As reported by Tummond, on March 17, some teenagers were standup paddleboarding from Atsena Otie Key to Cedar Key. Unfortunately, their journey of about half a mile took an unfortunate turn as the strong water currents swept them off course.

Tummond shared with TODAY on March 20 that it was incredibly harsh out there, more so than usual. He described massive 6-foot waves, strong winds, and biting cold. The water dipped to around 39 degrees Fahrenheit at night.

Today’s news indicates that Avery and Eva, who weren’t wearing life jackets, drifted 14 nautical miles away from their intended path and ended up stranded on their inflatable paddle board for more than 16 hours. After they went missing, a search team comprising the U.S. Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife, Levy and Citrus County Sheriff’s offices, and local volunteers launched a night-long operation to find them, as reported by Florida’s WCJB-TV News.

On March 18th, the ordeal concluded with a sense of freedom as three fishermen – Will Pauling, Russell Coon, and Alex Jefferies – discovered the pair stranded on a shallow marsh close to Yankeetown, a small town situated in the northern part of the state, early that morning.

As a fellow volunteer, I subsequently navigated Avery and Eva safely back to solid ground aboard my airboat, observing that they appeared quite distressed following the event.

In an interview with TODAY, Bartell shared that the group fell silent when he inquired about the incident. To lighten the mood, he began joking with them. Moreover, his 8-year-old son Brody contributed by offering snacks to the teens, which seemed to significantly ease their tension.

The twosome, who had not yet discussed their ordeal in public, were eventually reconnected with their loved ones and transported to a hospital. There, they received treatment for both hypothermia and dehydration before being released on March 20th. As for the factor that kept them afloat, Bartell emphasized that it was the teens’ determination to remain on the paddleboard that ultimately saved their lives.

In response, Tummond expressed agreement, stating, “The lessons Mom and Dad instilled in them have proven long-lasting. It’s fortunate that they managed to recall some of those essential life skills.

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2025-03-21 20:20