In heroic act, FMB captain saves stranded boaters

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. – A fishing captain was able to rescue two boaters Wednesday after a last minute decision and some help from the “man up above.”

Captain Steve Sewell of Hawg Wild Charters was headed to his usual fishing spot when rough seas forced him to find another location in the Gulf of Mexico.

When Sewell got about 15 miles off Wiggins Pass, near the coast of Collier County, he saw two people waving him down. Sewell said the men’s boat was taking on water, anchored improperly and the motor unable to start. They had no way to call for help.

“They didn’t have a radio on board, nothing. No one would have known they were there,” Sewell said. “I thank the good Lord for putting me where he put me yesterday.”

Sewell got to work quickly and within 15 minutes, the 16-foot-boat sank. The men were without life jackets.

“He reached over because he was done. He was going down,” Captain Billy Norris of the Pale Horse Charters, who was with Sewell, said of the two rescued men. “They are lucky Steve actually came along.”
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Sewell was able to bring the men to the boat ramp safely, but not before making sure one of the men could breathe.

“He was still trying to breathe, but he was purple and he started throwing up the salt water he inhaled,” Sewell said. “I did a few chest compressions on his side.”

Norris said Sewell’s act was heroic, even if the captain would not admit it.

“It was pretty heroic what he did yesterday. He will tell you he’s not a hero but it’s a truly heroic act,” Norris said.

The fishing captain won’t take credit but thanked God for the rough seas that sent him further into the gulf.

“I think the man from up above told me ‘It’s not going to work there today. Keep going to this other spot another 6 miles offshore,” Sewell said.