MIAMI — Three college students who were reported overdue were located aboard their disabled 21-foot vessel near Broad Creek, Florida, Thursday.
At approximately 9 p.m. Wednesday, watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Key West received a report of the missing college students after not returning from a trip to Everglades National Park where they were reported to be collecting water samples. The students were reported overdue by an associate professor at Florida International University after not returning at 3 p.m.
The Coast Guard issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and launched an MH-65 helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Miami to search alongside the National Park Service. The three were found Wednesday morning by the National Park Service.
"These students are very fortunate to have been found safely with no reported medical concerns," said Cmdr. Clint Prindle, response chief at Coast Guard Sector Key West. "This case highlights the effectiveness of having a float plan that likely saved these researches from a dangerous situation."
There were no reports of any injuries.
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