3 missing men rescued from ship off Steinhatchee

STEINHATCHEE, Fla. — U.S. Coast Guard crews rescued three men off the coast of Steinhatchee, officials say.

The rescue took place Saturday after the three men, Adam Simpson, Scott Snow and Dillon McCrea, became stranded when their 21-foot vessel broke down due to an electrical problem, the U.S. Coast Guard said in A press release.

Officials said the men were reported missing around 8 a.m. Saturday, a day after launching from the Steinhatchee River Inn and marina.

A Clearwater Jayhawk Air Station helicopter located the vessel with the three men on board around 1 p.m. A Coast Guard boat crew was able to pull the group to safety while the disabled vessel was towed to the marina.

“The key to any search and rescue case is accurate and reliable information coupled with safety equipment,” said Lt. Cmdr. Dana Grady, search and rescue mission coordinator in the Saint Petersburg sector. “The Coast Guard strongly encourages you to provide a flotation plan with a trusted person before putting your boat on the water.”

The successful search covered approximately 350 square nautical miles in 2- to 3-foot seas, according to the Coast Guard.