What was supposed to be a fun out on the water took a terrifying turn when a couple and their dog found themselves stranded in the treacherous waters of the St. Augustine Inlet in Florida.
As waves pounded the couple's boat, their vessel suddenly flipped, leaving the pair desperately clinging to its slippery underside.
The harrowing ordeal happened last Saturday afternoon just before 3pm when the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit responded to a distress call about the capsized boat.
The inlet is notorious for its unpredictable currents and rough waters where the Tolomato and Matanzas rivers converge.
Video footage shot by rescuers captured the terrifying reality of the situation.
The couple's overturned boat was being tossed violently by waves and at times almost disappeared beneath the turbulent waters.
When Deputies Michaux and Weintraub arrived, they found the man gripping onto his female companion tightly between his knees while she cradled their small dog against her chest in a desperate attempt to keep them all above water.
'Thankfully nobody was injured,' the sheriff's office later stated, acknowledging how it was only sheer luck that prevented all three of them being swept away and drowned.
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| A couple and their dog found themselves stranded in the treacherous waters of the St. Augustine Inlet in Florida |
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| The pair were left desperately clinging to the slippery underside of their boat after it flipped |
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| The man gripped onto his female companion tightly between his knees while she cradled their small dog against her chest in a desperate attempt to keep them all above water |
'Weather conditions on the water that day were poor. Strong winds and large swells made for rough seas,' the sheriff's office explained.
Although the boat had life jackets onboard, the pair were not wearing them and the vessel capsized so quickly that they had no time to retrieve them.
In a race against time, the woman managed to call 911 and within minutes first responders were en route to their remote location.
'It took about 10 to 15 minutes for us to locate them,' officials reported.
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| At one point the man fell into the water but was hauled aboard a rescue vessel |
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| The man was dragged onto a rescue boat by hi companion and rescuers |
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| The man appeared utterly exhausted from the ordeal out on the open water |
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| All three including the couple's dog were fortunately unharmed following the incident |
As their boat drifted, Deputy Michaux guided the rescue vessel into position while Deputy Weintraub sprang into action quickly pulling both adults and their pet to safety.
The couple and their dog were taken to the Vilano Fishing Pier, where they were assessed and found to be unharmed.
The St. Augustine Inlet, located about 40 miles south of Jacksonville, is well-known for its volatile nature.
It can be particularly hazardous during storm conditions when the current can change depending on the wind. via.
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