FWC Officers Rescue Stranded Kayaker Off the Keys
After 3.5 hours, rescuers located kayaker in the dark

Posted Thursday, March 25, 2010

 
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As the sun went down Tuesday evening off Sugarloaf Key, a kayaker found himself in a precarious position. His kayak had sunk, and he was wading in waist-deep water. He
called for help on his cell phone. The kayaker managed to relay his approximate location to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) dispatch. In the dark of night, FWC officers David
Robison and Seth Wingard spotted the kayaker, Robert T. Scheurenbrand, near mile marker 17 on the bay side. Just before 9 p.m., Robison and Wingard pulled
Scheurenbrand, 47, of Palm Beach County, out of the water and onto their patrol boat.

Scheurenbrand told FWC officers that his kayak began taking on water, and he had been standing in waist-deep water for approximately 3.5 hours. The officers took
Scheurenbrand back to his vehicle at the marina. Other than being cold, he was in good condition. He was wearing a life jacket.
FWC officers frequently perform searches and rescues. Their knowledge of the woods and water is critical to ensure a positive outcome when time is of the essence.