Father, two children rescued from boating incident in St. Johns River

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — UPDATE 9:16 p.m.

A father and two children have been rescued after getting separated from their boat, according to the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department.

Crews first found an anchored boat near the 1200 block of Journey’s End Lane. The boat had children’s shoes and fishing poles on board, indicating that someone had been on board previously.

Additionally, crews received reports about a missing father and two children, a 4-year-old and a 7-year-old.

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Jumping into action, JFRD enlisted multiple agencies to aid in a search for the missing occupants.

The 7-year-old, after being in the water for over an hour, successfully swam to shore.

The father and the 4-year-old were swept further away by strong currents. The 4-year-old was the only one with a life jacket.

Crews used every resource available to recover the father and child.

In a great turn of events, crews were able to rescue the child and the father. The latter was found near the Buckman Bridge.

All three are safe and well.

“It was unbelievable,” said JFRD Captain Eric Prosswimmer. “If we didn’t launch the effort that we had and had the help that we had with FWC and JSO, we wouldn’t be sitting here with a happy response right now.”

ORIGINAL STORY

A boating incident has occurred in the 1200 block of Journeys End Lane.

The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department is currently responding to the scene.

According to JFRD, there is a boat anchored in the water with no occupants aboard.

The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have launched a search.

Crews from Action News Jax are on their way to learn more.

This is a developing story that will be updated once more information becomes available.

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