COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. -- Two men who went missing after renting a boat in Fort Myers Beach have been found off Marco Island.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 81-year-old Joe Nita and 72-year-old Brian Daugherty rented a 22-foot pontoon boat in Estero Bay Tuesday. One of their spouses reported them missing Wednesday morning.
The Coast Guard sent out a search plane crew and boat crew and were assisted by crews from the Lee County Sheriff's Office, Cape Coral Police, Bonita Springs Police, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
A helicopter crew successfully located the missing boat about 7 miles west of Marco Island around 8:40 p.m. Wednesday with both men safely on board.
The boaters were reunited with their family at Station Fort Myers.
“It’s always a great feeling when you can reunite mariners with their loved ones,” said Lt. Robert List, the command duty officer. “I’m extremely proud of our watchstanders who worked diligently to help locate the two men and of course the multiple crews we had searching who were able to execute the mission and make this possible.”
