The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a Hurricane Milton survivor clinging onto a cool box while stranded at sea.

Footage shows an aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Miami hoisting the man who was found drifting around 30 miles off Longboat Key, Florida, on October 9. He was rushed to the Tampa General Hospital for treatment.

A fishing vessel first reported to the Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders after seeing the individual some 20 miles off John's Pass in Florida at around 12:40 pm local time.

Lieutenant Commander Dana Grady, Sector St. Petersburg's command center chief, said: 'This man survived in a nightmare scenario for even the most experienced mariner.

'To understand the severity of the hurricane conditions, we estimate he experienced approximately 75-90 mph winds, 20-25 foot seas, for an extended period of time to include overnight. He survived because of a life jacket, his emergency position indicating locator beacon, and a cooler.'

Hurricane Milton slammed into Siesta Key, Florida as a Category 3 storm on October 9.

It killed at least 17 people in Florida and knocked out power to millions in the state.

Milton struck as residents were still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Helene just two weeks earlier.