Man Rescued After Sailboat Runs Aground

REDINGTON BEACH, FL — Three Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies swung into action early Sunday morning to save a man whose sailboat ran aground in water behind a Redington Beach condominium complex.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies were notified around 4:51 a.m. by the U.S. Coast Guard that a distressed boat had been reported in the water behind The Tides, 16750 Gulf Blvd. When deputies made it to the scene, they found a 30-foot sailboat that was partially capsized in about 15 to 20 feet of water, an email from the sheriff’s office said. The engine motor was still running.

“Deputies say they could hear someone moaning in distress on-board the sailboat,” the email said. “Deputy Daniel Nociera, Deputy Tyler Schutz, and Deputy Jason Schmittendorf waded out into the waist deep water and found 74-year-old James Shemwell, clinging to the deck of the boat. Shemwell was disoriented and suffered minor injuries.”

Shemwell was pulled safety to shore and deputies confirmed no one else was on the vessel. Shemwell told deputies he remembered leaving from the Skyway Bridge area, but was unable to explain just what happened, the email noted.

Shemwell was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

“Deputies believe that impairment may have been a factor,” the email said.

An investigation into the accident is ongoing, the agency noted.

Photo courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office

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