29-Year-Old Woman Rescued After Falling Overboard Near Sand Key

CLEARWATER, FL — The Coast Guard rescued a 29-year-old woman from the water 36 miles west of Sand Key Friday night.

The Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg command center were notified by a boat operator that a woman had fallen overboard around 8 p.m.

A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew arrived on the scene and safely hoisted Sarah Rice into the helicopter. She was taken to Tampa General Hospital for medical evaluation but was uninjured.

“Everyone should utilize a life jacket when in the water due to the flotation and high visibility they provide," said Cmdr. Shawn Lansing, Sector St. Petersburg deputy commander. "This is why we urge all boaters to have life jackets with them. These make locating a person in the water easier for search and rescue crews.”