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Coast Guard Crew Saves Man From Sinking Sailboat

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By BETH GADDIS | TBO.com

Published: September 13, 2008

Members of a Clearwater Coast Guard rescue crew are being hailed as heroes today after rescuing a Naples man from his sinking sailboat.

The crew swung into action after a tow boat crew reported finding a capsized dinghy in Pelican Bay about 10 p.m. Friday. A Coast Guard crew from Fort Myers responded first and found debris including flip-flop sandals and clothing and began searching for any survivors.

Soon after, the tow boat crew reported it had found a man clinging to the sinking sailboat Jlou-Jlou in nearby Johnson Shoal and that the dinghy belonged to him. The man, 55-year-old Jean-Francois Duplaa, had run aground and tried to climb the mast as 4- to 5-foot waves crashed over him, the Coast Guard said.

A helicopter crew from Clearwater was brought in to help. Rescue swimmer Petty Officer 1st Class Curt Rohrich hoisted Duplaa into the helicopter and the crew brought him to Punta Gorda about 1:30 a.m. today. Duplaa was taken to Charlotte Regional Medical Center for evaluation. There's no word on his condition.

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