Two Boaters Swim to Shore After Boat Capsizes Off Tavernier
An Igloo cooler was used as flotation

Posted Monday, June 2, 2008

 

Photo credit: Sgt. Roy Bogue

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Call them Lucky!

Juan Panalver (pictured left) and Antonio Martin (right) are glad they made it to shore Sunday morning after their boat sunk Saturday night off of Crocker Reef.

The Sheriff's Office was called to check out two males who arrived on shore at a residence at the end of Canal St. on Plantation Key 89mm. On arrival Sgt. Bogue found Martin and Penalver in the back yard sitting on their cooler. Off Duty Coast Gaurdsmen Marshall Snyder , who lives nearby, was also there after being called by neighbors.

Antonio Martin explained that they left Tavernier by boat Sat. evening intending to go fishing. After arriving at their fishing spot they set the anchor and before the boat turned around on the line a wave came over their stern. The boa, a 20 ft Center Console owned by Martin, " went down in two or three seconds, " Martin said.

They were able to grab an igloo cooler that floated out, along with a life jacket and some fins, which they used to swim to shore.

Their families staying at their house in Tavernier, were just about to call and report them missing after cell phone calls were unanswered. Luckily, Martin and Panalver were able to call them for a ride home.

FWC Officer Lopez took a boating accident report and said he will look for the vessel for salvaging. He complimented them on not panicking, using the cooler for flotation and a good job at making it to shore.