A 16-hour Odyssey: "Amazing They're Still Kicking" - Two American Teens Survive 16 Hours Adrift in the Gulf of Mexico
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- Paddleboarding Mishap
- USA
- Florida
- Gulf of Mexico
- Rescue Drama
Incredible Coastal Expedition: American Teenagers Floated 16 Hours on the Ocean - "Thrilling survival tale": American adolescents float for 16 hours on an uncharted ocean
When the wind went wild on March 18-19, 2025, a nail-biting search and rescue mission took flight in the Gulf of Mexico off the sun-kissed Florida coast. At the helm? Two rebellious teenagers, 16-year-olds Eva Aponte and Avery Bryan, who found themselves in a pickle after getting swept away while paddleboarding near Cedar Key, Florida.
The Downwind Drift
- Time and Location: Monday, around 4:30 pm, saw the duo sailing back from a popular jaunt to Atsena Otie Key, a deserted, timeworn island tucked about half a mile from Cedar Key. Shifting winds tossed them off course like a cork on the sea, sending them drifting southeast across Waccasassa Bay.
- Weather Hit: Brace yourself, the winds were no light show of breezes touching 5 mph. A hurricane-level gust attacked, making their inflatable paddleboard behave more like a sail, and a wild one at that.
Game On: Search Party
- Call to Arms: A massive search-and-rescue effort ensued, orchestrated by the US Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, local sheriffs, and a fleet of volunteer boats.
- Night Owl Search: The search continued throughout the night, but the duo remained undiscovered, prompting anxiety as temperatures plummeted to bone-chilling low 40s.
Rise and Shine, Rescue Time!
- Statue-like Saviors: The miracle working team of Captain Will Pauling of Inglis, Alex Jefferies of Yankeetown, and Russell Coon of Clermont were the unsung heroes of this tale. They delayed their angling dreams, prioritizing the search early Tuesday morning.
- Timing is Everything: Just after sunrise on Tuesday, about 8:30 am, these modern-day heroes spotted the teens waving frantically for help from an oyster bar, miles away from the comforting embrace of the shore.
- State of the Heroines: Cold, weak, and bleeding, but alive thanks to grit, Eva and Avery emerged from their maritime adventure with cuts on their hands and feet from nautical obstacles.
Warm-up and Homeward Bound
After being plucked from the water, the survivors were whisked away on an airboat piloted by Captain Gary Bartell Jr. of Crystal River. On board, they were comforted with sustenance and layers to keep the chill at bay before their journey's end at Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park, in the arms of their grateful families.
Lessons Learned, Legend Lives On
Mayor Sue Colson of Cedar Key echoed the sentiment, "People often underestimate the danger lurking beneath the serene surface of our sea." The drama serves as a testament to the hazards of the water and the valor of our unsung champions.
- Daring Rescue in the Gulf of Mexico
- Despite the staggering 16-hour ordeal, Eva Aponte and Avery Bryan, two American teenagers, proved their mettle as they were rescued from the Gulf of Mexico off Florida's coast.
- The unsung heroes of the rescue mission, Captain Will Pauling, Alex Jefferies, and Russell Coon, delayed their angling dreams to search for the lost duo, eventually spotting them waving for help from an oyster bar, far from the shore.
