Missing Duck Hunter/Merritt Island

[Novalex]

Just received a call that a duck boat went down in Merritt Island.

The waves were said to be 2-3 on the Goon straight out of the north.

The passanger was located by a passing vessel.

The operator George Leach of the DU JAX Beach Chapter is still missing as of 1930hrs.

The Coasties & the SO are out looking for him @ this time.

Please, please wear your life vests tomorrow.

[N. Cook]

George and his companion were found, wet and cold but they will be ok....understand George's dog did not survive....

Be safe folks.....and wear your life vests....

[uncle D]

I'm sure this will wake a few folks up out there. I had been in contact w/ George Leath throughout the morning and we were relaying scouting reports. At 1 pm he and I talked and told each other that we had VHF radios and to be on Ch 72. I had just crossed the Mosquito Lagoon to the safe side. He was heading over to the beach. It was 2-3ft then.

I met up with fellow ducker and UW member Gary Jensen. He and I looked around on the Indian Rv Impoundments. After he mentioned that he planned to meet George and George's partner John at Beakon 42 boat ramp after the scout. We arrived there @ 4:30 pm. Waited and were soon met by Eddie Shea and two other friends. We all had boats, but did not launch because the day was done. The winds were approx 30+ MPH and by now the seas on the Lagoon were 3-4ft.

We tried to contact george by VHF. No luck. thought that maybe our radios were bad, we contacted the Haulover Bridge. They had copy of us and tried to hail George. No luck.

We didn't like the way things we going. We were standing at the ramp near dark now when one of us heard a faint whistle. A repeated trill from a police whistle coming from the Lagoon. It continued and put us on the alarm that it was George or John. We launched a boat in the dark and Gary and I made it to the whistle coming from a spoil island. When we arrived 5:30-6 pm., we found John soaking wet, in shock and sever hypothremia. We got him aboard and back to the ramp. Stripped him, put him in a sleeping bag, put him in the truck with heater blasting. He was able to tell us the location of George who was with the sunken boat along with the dog. We called Coast Guard 6:15 and emergency vehicles and personel came 7:30 without a boat .

Gary went to the open water to look for George, but it was too ruff. Rich (Gary's friend) and I went back to spoil Island, but no George. we returned to ramp.

I won't go into much detail, but Coast Gaurd, KSC and Brevard Co rescue could not get it together enough to get George from the sunken boat because they were not drilled or prepared for such event. An hour and half later Jane from USFWS LEO showed with boat and talked with us, the duck hunters to determine where George was. She took control and with her command of the situation, she was able to locate George. George sank at 4:30 and he was not retrieved untill 9-9:30.

George and John were held at the hospital for two days and release this afternoon. The dog did not survive.

Lessons learned.

Leave a float plan with someone. Wear a PDF at all times. Have a whistle. Try not to leave vessel if it is still floting some what. Have a waterproof flashlight on you person and carry a waterproof VHF on your person. Do not cross the Lagoon in 30 mph winds.

Duke

[hitch]

Good going Duke! Pat just finished telling me all about it, and I looked and saw your post. You and the guys and Jane should all be commended. You took the bull by the horns and saved those two fellow duck hunters lives.

Great Work!!

Hitch

[duckmanJR]

Leave a float plan with someone. Wear a PDF at all times. Have a whistle. Try not to leave vessel if it is still floting some what. Have a waterproof flashlight on you person and carry a waterproof VHF on your person. Do not cross the Lagoon in 30 mph winds.

Duke

All good stuff Duke but the very last sentance is really key... The lagoon in 30 knot winds is NO JOKE!
Bad stuff happens fast and with cold temps this was a disaster in the making..and it happens just often enough that it should be on everyones mind ...It is a miracle that you guys saved them...It is impossible to praise you guys too much. GOOD JOB!!! :occasion14

[Randy Clark]

sounds like a great christmas gift PFD"S the gift that can save a life. last christmas we bought 4 inflatibles now we just have to keep remember to wear them

[Quackers]

Lessons to be learned here.......
Glad George knew to have a whisle.
Help arrives without a boat and no clue? Hope they have some drills.
Duke your knowledge of the area including being able to contact the bridge sure saved the day. Hero status.

We almost ran over a boat in the river that came around a bend in the dark with NO LIGHTS this morning!!!

Think safety.

[Pinman]

Hats off to you guys Duke!

Others have said it and I'll say it again. Wear It! I know of 2 lives that could have been saved if the guys had been wearing PFD's.

[duckmanJR]

sounds like a great christmas gift PFD"S the gift that can save a life. last christmas we bought 4 inflatibles now we just have to keep remember to wear them

Randy, It is easy for me..Joey won't even start the motor till I have mine on...

[Randy Clark]

Randy, It is easy for me..Joey won't even start the motor till I have mine on...

joey's brain functions better than mine that early in the morning but hopefully this will serve to remind all of us that it is important

[D Duck]

Got the details from Jane on Sat. morning (about 2am). Sorry to hear about Georges dog.

George has been around the block once or twice at MI and SHOULD know better than to be out there in those conditions - by midday on Friday, it was getting bad.

[NSBsailsntails]

good job duke, sorry to hear about the dog. i was in michigan when my friend called and told me. the lagoon can get nasty really quick.

[Gaddy1]

Duke, glad you were there to save them.

[uncle D]

I think most would have done the same.

It was a group effort, a network of other hunters, some fore thought to have VHFs, a knowledge of the area and some clear headed thinking.

Jane was the one who had it together enough to communicate with us, a knowledge of the area and common sense to take control on the water.

Good job to all that knew what to do.

I'll bite my tounge on some others.

I will say through communicating with the Haulover Canal Bridge attendent and Coast Gaurd was a huge help. Someone called Jane. Thank god.

Duke

[duckbone]

I honestly believe that without Duke and Gary those two guys would be gone. Heroes that day for sure. Great job by the refuge LEO staff they outshined the rest of the rescue effort and without them George probably would not have made it. Although I'm sure it would have been duck hunters to the rescue in short time if she didn't succeed. Just a note that is the 3rd mudmotor powered boat to sink in the past 2 seasons on the lagoon. All by burying the nose into rough water because of no bow lift from mudmotors. Georges boat was a Go Devil manufactured boat and if you know them you know they are made with two big long compartments full of foam in the back third of the boat. This will not keep your boat from sinking with a heavy mudmotor on it as Georges went down stern first. Even with 3 bilge pumps on board. His is also not a small boat. George is no rookie on the lagoon he's been on it since the 60's and being prepared with safty equipment like whistles saved his and his friends life. Duke and Gary hats off to you guys for that night and giving up the rest of your opening weekend to take care of Georges dog and boat. Gary drove all the way to palmbeach to retrieve his big boat to be able to drag Georges up and get it floating again on sunday. Be careful on the lagoon boys it's unforgiving. Duke and I had just had a conversation about that a couple days prior to this and I posted that message that same day on the members forum, sadly ironic. Thanks again guys it would have been tragic to lose them.

[bohl]

Great job Mr Duke!!!:occasion14

[blueyed-goof]

Duke and Gary-

Great job. I would like to think that any of us would help out in a that sort of situation...you never know...it could be you out there through some freak accident waiting and hoping for rescue. Thanks a lot guys!

Dani