The death toll from Hurricane Milton has risen to at least 15 in Florida, as was reported on Thursday, and as rescue efforts continue across the storm-ravaged state.
Authorities confirmed an additional fatality in Polk County, east of Tampa, bringing the total deaths to six in St. Lucie County, four in Volusia, two in Pinellas, and one each in Citrus, Hillsborough, and Polk counties.
More than 3.4 million households remain without power as search and rescue operations persist. Officials report that at least 1,000 people and 105 animals have been rescued thus far.
In one case of a rescue, the U.S. Coast Guard saved a man found kneeling on a cooler floating approximately 50 kilometres off the coast in the Gulf of Mexico near Longboat Key, South Florida.
#Breaking An @USCG Air Station Miami 65 helicopter crew rescued a man clinging to a cooler approximately 30 mi. off Longboat Key.
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) October 10, 2024
The man was taken to Tampa General Hospital for medical care.
Sector St. Pete lost communications w/ the man at approx. 6:45 p.m., Wed. #SAR pic.twitter.com/64wSHuRAeH
“This man survived a nightmare scenario, even for the most experienced mariner,” said Lt. Cmdr. Dana Grady of the U.S. Coast Guard. “He survived thanks to his life jacket, emergency position-indicating radio beacon, and a refrigerator.”
The man was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital for medical treatment.
(information from protothema.gr)
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