Former college football quarterback Chris Smelley, 37, spent 11 hours stranded in a kayak in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida after being swept out by heavy winds, prompting a rescue effort by the US Coast Guard. Despite not having a phone or life jacket, he remained calm and was eventually spotted by helicopters and rescued by a friend with a fishing boat and the Coast Guard. Smelley, now a high school coach, expressed gratitude for the support and emphasized the importance of safety precautions when venturing into the ocean.
Chris Smelley, a Sylacauga football coach, recounts his 11-hour ordeal stranded in the Gulf of Mexico after strong winds carried him seven to eight miles off the coast while kayak fishing near Grayton Beach, Florida. His wife alerted authorities when he didn't return, prompting an urgent search by the U.S. Coast Guard and wildlife officials. After being spotted by rescue helicopters and picked up by a friend's fishing boat, Smelley was reunited with his family, emphasizing the importance of safety precautions when venturing into the ocean.
Former South Carolina quarterback Chris Smelley, reported missing after a fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico, was found by the U.S. Coast Guard nearly 12 hours later. He was located two miles off the coast of Grayton Beach and transferred to a friend's vessel. Smelley, who played for the South Carolina Gamecocks and later transferred to Alabama, now serves as the head football coach at Sylacauga High School.
Former South Carolina quarterback Chris Smelley went fishing off the Florida Gulf Coast and found himself in trouble, drifting far from shore without a life jacket. A search ensued, involving the Coast Guard and friends, until he was found and rescued after spending a long day on the water. Smelley credits the power of prayer for his safe return and plans to use the experience in a positive way.
Sylacauga High School's head football coach, Chris Smelley, went missing after a fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico off Grayton Beach. The U.S. Coast Guard and local authorities launched a search, and he was eventually found 2 miles off shore of Grayton Beach by a friend who happened to be in the area on a boat. Smelley was safely rescued and reportedly has no medical concerns.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office is searching for Chris Smelley, the head football coach at Sylacauga High School, who went missing after going kayaking in the Gulf of Mexico off Grayton Beach. Smelley, described as 6′3 and weighing 202 lbs, was last seen wearing a camo swimsuit and was in his blue and black kayak without a phone, life jacket, or distress devices. Multiple resources, including the United States Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife, have been deployed to assist in locating him, and anyone with information is urged to call 850-892-8111.
Search crews are continuing to look for 18-year-old Carson Hughes, who went missing at Versailles State Park in Indiana. His vehicle was found unlocked with the keys inside near the boat ramp, and his kayak was discovered on the water nearby. Anyone with information on Carson’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
The Carnival Jubilee cruise ship rescued two men who were stranded on a kayak in the Gulf of Mexico after their boat sank, providing them with first aid, food, and a medical evaluation. The men were spotted off the coast of Isla Mujeres, Mexico, and were later transferred to the custody of the Mexican Navy. This incident comes just a month after the Carnival Vista team saved six men stranded in a similar situation near the Dominican Republic.
Carnival Cruise Line's ship, Carnival Jubilee, rescued two men who were stranded in a kayak off the coast of Mexico's Isla Mujeres after their boat sank. The men were safely brought aboard, evaluated by the ship's medical staff, and provided with first aid and food. The ship continued its planned route after arranging a transfer with Mexican Navy officials, following a similar rescue by another Carnival ship last month near the Dominican Republic.
The Carnival Jubilee cruise ship rescued two men who were found floating in a kayak in the Gulf of Mexico after their boat sank near Isla Mujeres, Mexico. The men were brought aboard the ship, received medical attention and food, and were later transferred to the Mexican Navy. This comes just a month after the Carnival Vista rescued six people stranded in the ocean near the Dominican Republic.
A Rhode Island man, Freddy Rodriguez, was charged after federal agents discovered 26 pounds of cocaine in a kayak on Lake Champlain in Vermont near the Canadian border. Rodriguez was seen loading objects from a bag into the kayak before attempting to flee but was apprehended. The brick-like packages found in the kayak contained approximately 26.4 pounds of cocaine. If convicted, Rodriguez could face up to 40 years in prison.
Alaska State Troopers are searching for the body of Paul Rodriguez Jr., an outdoor enthusiast who inadvertently filmed his own drowning. Rodriguez was wearing a helmet with a GoPro camera attached when his kayak overturned in a glacial lake. The camera footage revealed that the kayak overturned due to a strong current from the glacier. His body has not yet been found, but authorities are continuing their search.
A fisherman in Hawaii had a close encounter with a tiger shark while kayaking off the coast of Kualoa. The incident was caught on his GoPro camera, which he had accidentally left on after catching a fish. The footage shows the shark ramming into his kayak, but fortunately, he was not injured.
A man fishing from his kayak off the coast of Hawaii captured a video of a tiger shark attacking his kayak. The man managed to kick the shark with his left foot, and it went back into the water. He assumed the shark was looking for a wounded seal he spotted nearby. The man wasn't hurt in the brief attack.
A Hawaii angler survived a shark attack on his kayak while fishing off Oahu. The incident was captured on a Go Pro video camera. The angler kicked at the predator and screamed "Tiger shark!" as a warning to his nearby fishing companion. The shark mistook the kayak for an injured seal, according to the angler.
