Gulf Shores resident meets with FWC officers after rescue at sea
FWC photos show the sea rescue, Ms. Hendricks and FWC officers.
On the afternoon of August 11, 2023, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) responded to a call received by the U.S. Coast Guard regarding a missing person near the Destin Pass East Jetty.
A wave struck a personal watercraft with two individuals on board, and both the vessel operator and passenger were thrown into the water. The passenger was able to get back on the personal water craft (PWC), but the kill switch was attached to the operator’s personal flotation device, and the two were separated in the water after being ejected.
A Good Samaritan boater rescued the passenger, a short time later, and they were taken back to shore by an FWC vessel. The PWC was recovered by the livery staff, undamaged, but the operator was not immediately found.
The search for the operator, DeNell Hendricks of Gulf Shores, lasted approximately three hours, and included the use of air assets and vessels from FWC, Okaloosa County Sherriff’s Office, Okaloosa Fire Department and the U.S. Coast Guard.
During an aerial search pattern, FWC Pilot Tolbert spotted Hendricks, approximately 2.6 miles offshore. Tolbert guided FWC Officers Brooks and Pritchard to the location, and they pulled her from the water and transported her to shore for medical attention. Hendricks and her companion were both released from the hospita,l uninjured.
“She was pretty incoherent from just being out there so long,” said FWC Officer Pritchard. “We threw a line that landed about a foot from her, and she didn’t realize it was there. Eventually, the rope drifted towards her, and we were able to pull her in.”
On September 6, Hendricks met and thanked her FWC rescuers in person. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to put a face to the people who rescued her. “I had a lot of guardian angels,” she said. “Some had wings; some had boats.”
“We really appreciate meeting and talking with DeNell,” said FWC Pilot Tolbert. “We were out doing our job and it was a group effort. We are so thankful that this story had a very happy ending.”
Media coverage of this story can be found at WEAR News here: https://weartv.com/news/local/woman-meets-with-fwc-rescuers-following-jet-ski-accident-in-destin?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=campaign.