Florida
Adrift Family Rescued After 20 Hours at Sea …
Spent Night on Capsized Catamaran
Published
A family of four is seriously counting their lucky stars — they spent 20 terrifying hours stranded at sea off the coast of Florida … and there are vivid pics and video of them right as rescuers swooped in.
The fam, spanning three generations — Dennis Woods, 70, his 90-year-old uncle Clarence, plus Cris Harding Sr., 42, and Cris Harding Jr., 18 — were seen desperately waving Tuesday morning, standing on top of their 25-foot catamaran — ironically named Money Well Wasted — when the Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry crew finally spotted them.
#Breaking A @USCG Sta Sand Key boat crew rescued 4 ppl after their vessel capsized approx. 26 miles west of Clearwater, Tuesday.
đ: https://t.co/JcMOSaxQIuâ° #SAR #SearchandRescue #CoastGuard #USCG #soothersmaylive #weownthesea pic.twitter.com/2l07JBIGmP
â U.S. Coast Guard Southeast (@USCGSoutheast) November 25, 2025
@USCGSoutheast
The foursome set out at 9:30 AM the day before for Dennisâ birthday fishing trip … but by early afternoon, the catamaran started taking on water and flipped. According to the Coast Guard, they were reported missing by another family member Tuesday night.
They spotted a Coast Guard chopper later that night, but couldnât get its attention … which meant a brutal night as waves picked up while they climbed onto the boatâs rigging. All the while, Dennis explained he was trying to keep his uncle safe.
Dennisâ sister Teresa told Fox 13 and Tampa Bay 28 they thought they werenât gonna make it, and prayed all night. So when they were finally found the next morning — about 26 miles west of Clearwater — it felt like a full-on miracle … especially since the catamaran was almost completely submerged by then.
They were finally hauled to safety — warmed up, rehydrated with electrolytes, and water — and Dennis cracked that his 70th birthday was all good … now that they were officially done celebrating anywhere that isnât solid ground!