An 21-year old Florida Free diver caught in The powerful Gulf Stream currentWhich swept him into shark-infested waters – before his elated family found him several hours later amid shrieks of “there he is!”
Dylan Gartenmayer was free-diving – holding his breath about 35 feet underwater – near Key West Thursday while two pals waited in Their boat NBC Miami reported.
The conditions quickly deteriorated, and the group headed to shore. Gartenmayer wanted one more dive. in.
“So I ran back out and that’s where everything started happening,” According to him, the outlet was informed.
Gartenmayer appeared suddenly swept Out by The current He was then dragged down 150ft. After that, he held his breath for approximately two minutes.
While holding a floating piece of bamboo, he said that he had swam approximately a mile to reach a channel marker. in The water.
His family and friends worried about him.
Gartenmayer’s mom Tabitha said she got a distressing call from her ex-husband.
“‘Tab, something’s wrong with Dylan! They haven’t seen him in an hour,’” According to her, she spoke for NBC. “And from that moment on, this feeling came over me, just like this, and I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t talk.”
The entire family mobilized quickly and started to leave. in They raced to his final known address in search of their loved one and the US Coast Guard.
“We had the coordinates that were given to us, but he obviously wasn’t on those,” Tabitha spoke to NBC Miami.
Gartenmayer reported that he had a chance to see the Coast Guard in action. in Distance
“I could see their blue lights, the helicopter going, doing their grid pattern. My bamboo had started drifting away from me,” He said.
The drama was documented by Gartenmayer’s cousin Priscilla in Here are some gripping posts on social media. Insider reported.
“I knew that the further and further I got out, the less of a chance I’d be found, and it was taking me out deeper and deeper,” Gardenmayer stated.
Gartenmayer claimed that he removed three of the mooring balls from his raft and made a new one. “conserve body heat” Sharks swim while others are swimming in The area.
“By some miracle, my parents and everybody else on board my grandfather’s boat had ended up driving and basically landing right on top of me,” He said.
Gartenmayer claimed that he raised his spear in an attempt to get their attention, and Joel Cruz finally saw him.
Priscilla shot several TikTok videos These viral videos include one in The family and friends shout at each other in They are thrilled to spot the diver stranded.
“There he is!” They can be heard screaming.
Priscilla posted a second post captioning a video showing her freezing and exhausted cousin. being He was pulled aboard the boat and placed in the arms of rescuers.
“We’ve lived in Key West for many generations,” She wrote. “And we have fallen family members who we let to rest at sea and we really feel like they protected him.”
The Coast Guard checked Gartenmayer’s vitals and found that he had a “low core temperature, but that’s about it,” Priscilla wrote.
“He spent the night in his bed, safe and sound. We are so grateful,” Elle added.
Coast Guard officials said that they were grateful for Gartenmayer’s safe recovery.
“Too often missing diver cases don’t have positive outcomes, and the circumstances of this case didn’t forecast for one,” Lt. Cmdr. Elizabeth Tatum is a coordinator for search and rescue missions.
“Sunset, weather conditions and Dylan’s outfit were playing against us in this case, but his foresight to lash mooring balls together to make him a bigger target in the water was smart,” Elle added.
