Shivering teens stranded on paddleboard rescued after 16 hours lost at sea: ‘They just started flailing’

A dramatic rescue mission unfolded off the coast of Florida as two 16-year-old girls were found stranded on a paddleboard after more than 16 hours at sea. The harrowing ordeal came to an end when volunteers located the girls clinging to the flimsy craft, cold and frightened but safe.

The girls had been seen paddling from Alsena Otie to Cedar Key on a black and white board before they were swept out to sea, according to the Levy County Sheriff’s Office. A search was launched when they were reported missing, and they were eventually found near Porpoise Point, approximately 14 miles from their starting point.

The heroes who rescued the girls, identified as Will Pauling, Alex Jeffries, and Russell Coon, described the teens as “cold, cut, and dehydrated.” The girls had endured a terrifying night, with helicopters flying overhead but narrowly missing them with spotlights.

When Pauling, Jeffries, and Coon spotted the stranded teens, they appeared as a tiny speck in the vast ocean. They immediately turned their boat towards them, and the girls began flailing for help.

Despite their ordeal, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office reassured the public that the girls would be fine. He commended their resilience, stating, “They weathered the storm on probably the most ill-equipped watercraft out there. Strong girls. Their resilience is amazing.”

The girls’ survival story serves as a testament to their strength and determination in the face of adversity. The community has rallied around them, grateful that they were found safe and sound after a frightening experience at sea.