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Authorities ID boater rescued off Apollo Beach

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The Associated Press

Published: May 4, 2009

Updated: 05/04/2009 11:34 am

A boater rescued after five hours treading water has been identified as Michael Farmer, 43, of Brandon.

Farmer, who was not wearing a life jacket, appeared to be in stable condition, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Sondra-Kay Kneen.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office found a 31-foot Sea Ray sport boat run aground on Apollo Beach about 10 p.m. Sunday. The engine was running, but no one was aboard, Kneen said. Deputies found a cell phone and wallet on the boat and contacted the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard launched a helicopter and search boat and found Farmer, who had climbed on a navigational buoy about 1.5 miles west of Apollo Beach, Kneen said. He told rescuers he had fallen off the back of his boat.

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