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Miracle at Sea: Florida Family of Four — Ages 18 to 90 — Rescued After 20 Hours Clinging to Capsized Catamaran

A Florida family of four — ages 18 to 90 — was rescued after spending about 20 hours clinging to their capsized 25-foot catamaran roughly 26 miles off Clearwater. The boat, named Money Well Wasted, began taking on water and flipped within minutes of trouble. An Air Station Miami crew found them the next morning and transferred them to safety; all survived, and three were kept overnight for dehydration and hypothermia. Relatives called their survival a "miracle."

02:50 AM, 11/27/2025Society
Miracle at Sea: Florida Family of Four — Ages 18 to 90 — Rescued After 20 Hours Clinging to Capsized Catamaran

A three-generation Florida family was rescued after spending roughly 20 hours clinging to their overturned 25-foot catamaran about 26 miles offshore. The four men — Dennis Woods, 70; his uncle Clarence Woods, 90; Cris Harding Sr., 42; and Cris Harding Jr., 18 — launched from the Seminole Street Boat Ramp on a birthday fishing trip when their vessel, named Money Well Wasted, began taking on water and capsized within minutes.

"It was probably less than five minutes before it rolled," Dennis said, describing how one side filled quickly and left them no time to contact the Coast Guard. He added that the immediate priority was getting life jackets on the 90-year-old and the 18-year-old, and that one jacket became stuck so he had to leave it behind.

They spent a difficult night on the overturned hull as waves picked up. Dennis said he spent much of the night physically supporting his 90-year-old uncle, who fell several times. Family members later said they feared they might not survive; relatives kept vigil, prayed through the night and sang to stay hopeful.

An Air Station Miami HC-144 crew located the men the following morning around 7:15 a.m., approximately 26 miles west of Clearwater Pass, in 2-to-3-foot seas and 5-to-10-knot winds. Rescuers maneuvered alongside the overturned catamaran and brought all four men safely aboard a rescue boat.

Coast Guard responder Savannah O’Dell said the elderly man was positioned on the outside of the craft, and crews were concerned for his safety. The rescuers wrapped the men in warm towels, provided water and electrolytes, and transported them to the Coast Guard station for assessment.

At the station, emergency personnel treated the group for dehydration and hypothermia; the 90-year-old also had cuts. Three of the four men were kept overnight for observation while Cris Harding Sr. was released after treatment. Family members later celebrated their survival as nothing short of a miracle — and Dennis, who had started the day celebrating his 70th birthday, joked that it was a good birthday now that they were back on land.

Safety note: The incident is a reminder to file a float plan with someone on shore, ensure all passengers wear life jackets, check weather and vessel condition before departing, and carry working means to call for help.

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