Stranded 35 Miles Offshore: How a Routine Fishing Trip Became a Life-Saving Rescue

Marco Island, FL — What started as an ordinary Saturday afternoon fishing trip quickly turned into a life-or-death situation 35 miles off the coast of Marco Island.

Captain Kevin Koprash of Six Chuter Charters was heading back from a routine excursion when something unusual caught his eye in the vast expanse of the Gulf. “At first we thought it was just debris,” Koprash recalled. “Me and my first mate kind of had pits in our stomachs, and we agreed we had to turn around and go back. And I’m glad we did.”

What they found was far from ordinary. A small fishing boat had capsized, and not far from it, two men clung to an old radio tower, stranded and exposed to the elements.

Video captured the tense rescue: Koprash expertly maneuvered alongside the tower as adrenaline surged. Passengers helped the men climb aboard, offering water, reassurance, and a lifeline after what must have been terrifying hours.

The men, who spoke only Spanish, had been fishing near Bonita Springs before the accident, and while Koprash never learned exactly what happened, the gratitude in their eyes said it all. “We were all kind of shook up,” he admitted. “I don’t know how long they’d been there. Their boat capsized a few miles north of the tower. I think all the stars lined up for them, as well as for us.”

Once the men were safe on board, Koprash called the Coast Guard, who met them offshore to complete the rescue. Before leaving, the rescued men shook hands with their rescuers—a quiet, human moment amid an extraordinary day.

For Koprash, it was a reminder that the sea is as unpredictable as it is beautiful. “It’s a reminder of how quickly a normal day can turn into a life-or-death situation out on the water,” he said. “I’m just thankful everyone made it home safe.”