Photo: OceanFishing / iStock / Getty Images
Sarasota, FL - A Sarasota police officer heroically jumped onto a runaway boat circling at high speed after its operator was ejected, bringing it to a safe stop in a dramatic rescue caught on video.
According to Sarasota Police, the incident happened near the Ringling Museum after the operator of a 26-foot Everglades vessel was thrown overboard.
The man told officers he had been returning the boat following the Marina Jack Boat Show when another, larger vessel cut him off.
The sudden wake allegedly caused him to lose balance and fall into the water.
He was not wearing a life jacket and had not used the boat’s emergency engine cut-off switch, leaving the vessel to spin out of control at roughly 40 mph.
Multiple agencies, including the Coast Guard, Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, Venice Police, and SeaTow, attempted to disable the unmanned boat.
Initial tow line efforts failed until a plasma tow line managed to slow it slightly.
That’s when Sarasota Marine Patrol Officer Ron Dixon carefully approached the vessel, allowing Lt. Bruce King to leap aboard and shut off the engine before anyone was injured.
The boater, who suffered two broken fingers, narrowly avoided being hit by his own boat, which passed within five feet of him while he was in the water.
No vessels were damaged during the incident.
Sarasota Police later shared bodycam footage of the rescue, even posting a lighthearted version of the video set to the "Mission: Impossible" theme.
The department reminded boaters to always wear life jackets and use emergency shut-off switches to prevent similar incidents.