United States - September 26, 2024

Amidst the growing threat of Hurricane Helene, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) Marine Section executed a daring rescue on September 26th, when a distress call echoed across the waters near Sunken Island. A jet ski rider, caught off guard by the unforgiving seas, collided with an unseen submerged wall, leading to a perilous situation that demanded immediate action.

The incident unfolded in the afternoon, a time when Hurricane Helene's approach had already begun to churn the waters into a frothy menace. The rider, whose identity has been withheld for privacy, found themselves stranded and in immediate danger as their jet ski became lodged against the wall.