A private boat hit a rogue wave. The violence of the impact launched the captain, two other adults and a young boy, 8 or 9 years old, into the water. Even the rub rails that the passengers were holding on to were ripped off. But one little girl, 7 years old, remained aboard the captain-less, runaway boat. Fortunately, one of the adults in the water used a waterproof phone to call 911.
When the call came over the radio on March 16, Lt. Chuck Kellenberger was crossing Long Key Bridge, just north of Marathon, and Middle Keys Marine Deputy Willie Guerra was bayside in his boat off Marathon writing a citation.
Guerra told the guys he caught with “shrimp-sized” lobster it was their lucky day. He threw the undersized lobster back in the water and put his boat in gear — speeding northeast to get to Duck Key.
Kellenberger pulled over at Bay View Inn on Conch Key where he knew they had Jet Ski rentals, explained the emergency and asked to borrow the personal watercraft.
“I was in full uniform, dress pants, shiny shoes and all. I put on my life jacket and got on the ski,” he told the Keys Weekly.
“Within about two minutes I could see the boat crashed into the mangrove island, the engine shooting water straight up in the air,” Kellenberger said. “At first I didn’t see anybody or hear anything. Then I heard a faint “help” and saw a little girl standing in the water about 100 feet away waving a pink T-shirt in the air.”
The island was most likely Channel Key on the bayside, opposite Duck Key.
Kellenberger got her on the Jet Ski and headed towards Guerra’s boat.
As Guerra approached from the southwest side of the island, he spotted a man in the water and brought him aboard. Within minutes, the man and his daughter were reunited.
Guerra said, “He told me, ‘This is the happiest I’ve ever been to see a cop!’”
The rest of the party — a man, woman and a young boy — were found on a nearby sandbar with the help of two more Monroe County Sheriff’s Office personnel: Capt. Derek Paul and Deputy Thomas McDonald. Those two were on the bridge with an eagle’s view of the scene, helping to direct Kellenberger and Guerra.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Coast Guard also arrived at the scene and the victims were transported back to Bayview Inn where they were met by a rescue crew.
“We were a little worried about the boy; he seemed lethargic. But when he got him to shore he started to come around. I think he was just in shock from the incident,” Kellenberger said.
Kellenberger and Guerra are quick to dismiss the hero label and both say it was a team effort not only by the sheriff’s office, but also FWC and Coast Guard.
Kellenberger said it was a VERY lucky day for the family.
“It’s always bad when there is an accident on the water, but especially when people are thrown into the water without lifejackets. And then to have a runaway boat with a little girl onboard — anything could have happened. The boat could have missed the island and kept going. Bad things could have happened that fortunately did not,” said Kellenberger. “And that little girl was a champ. She flagged me down, told me what happened and was very calm.”
