Brevard helicopter unit saves boater, dog

ROCKLEDGE -- The Brevard County Sheriff's Office helicopter squad rescued a struggling boater and his small dog Saturday afternoon on Lake Poinsett.

The boater was last seen about 9 a.m., and he was reported missing about 3 p.m. Chief Pilot John Coppola flew the BCSO Huey to the lake and located the boater, who was clinging to his overturned 14-foot vessel.

He was not wearing a life jacket, and his small dog was atop the overturned boat.

As Coppola hovered the Huey overhead, BCSO Tactical Flight Officer Mike Ryle and Tactical Flight Officer William Gleason of the Melbourne Police Department jumped into the water with a life jacket for the victim, who was exhausted. He had been clinging to the overturned boat for almost six hours.

Coppola directed another boater to the scene. The boater transported the man and dog to the shoreline. Brevard County Fire Rescue personnel took the man to the hospital, citing his low vital signs.