Off-Duty Officers Rescue Couple Treading Water for 14 Hours

The couple became stranded after falling off their boat, which was in gear and pulled away.

Three off-duty officers on a fishing trip rescued a couple who had been treading water for 14 hours after falling off their boat in Key Largo, Fla.

The Broward Sheriff's Office said two detectives and a firefighter/paramedic were fishing for dolphin Saturday morning about seven miles offshore of Hallandale Beach when they saw what looked like fish jumping or birds feeding on the surface of the water.

As they got closer, they saw it was actually a man treading water and waving his T-shirt at them. Next to him was an exhausted woman.

The three officers and a civilian who was fishing with them helped the couple onto their boat.

The couple told them they fell off their boat in Key Largo about 14 hours earlier. The boat was in gear and pulled away from them, leaving them stranded.

The couple appeared to have mild hypothermia and some jellyfish stings, BSO said.

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