A 25-year-old man named Charles Gregory was found alive after being stranded at sea for nearly two days in a partially submerged fishing boat off the coast of St. Augustine, Florida. The man had launched from Lighthouse Park Boat Ramp on Thursday and was reported missing by his family on Friday evening when he failed to return. The U.S. Coast Guard and other law enforcement agencies launched an extensive search and rescue operation, utilizing aircraft and boats to locate the missing boater.

On Saturday morning, an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew spotted Gregory sitting in his waterlogged jon boat, which was bobbing up and down in the waves about 12 miles offshore. A video recorded by the Coast Guard shows Gregory sitting in the center of the boat with his feet submerged in water. A small raft approached the boat and assisted Gregory out of his swamped vessel. He was then transferred to shore and reunited with his family.

Despite being exposed to the elements for over 24 hours, Gregory did not sustain any serious injuries. However, he suffered from severe sunburn due to the blistering Florida sun. His father, Raymond Gregory, expressed his gratitude and faith, stating, "There's a god up there," as his son arrived at Vilano Beach Fishing Pier. The elder Gregory also faulted himself for briefly losing hope and urged others not to give up.

The Coast Guard emphasized the importance of having proper safety gear onboard and being prepared for emergencies while out on the water. They advised boaters to have life jackets, VHF marine grade radios, signaling devices, and emergency personal locator beacons to contact first responders in case of assistance. The Coast Guard's successful rescue of Charles Gregory serves as a reminder of the potential dangers of boating and the importance of preparedness.