It started as a quiet Friday night at the Regatta Point Marina in Bradenton for Matt Furgeson and his family.
- Two women were boating with a 2-month-old Saturday
- Their boat began to take on water, deputies say
- Good Samaritians and authorities quickly came to their rescue
As they were sitting and watching a movie, Furgeson heard someone jump onto his boat.
It was two of his neighbors, and Lt. Aaron Bowen with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. They asked Furgeson if he could captain a motor boat to help rescue a family and their 2-month-old daughter who were in a sinking boat on the Manatee River.
"Once they found me, we got on the boat, and I just punched it to get to them quickly," he said.
The rescue was caught on video.
When the group arrived, the rear of the boat was just inches from the waterline. They were able to pull the baby girl and two women on board to safety before Lt. Bowen and Furgeson jumped on and began using a cooler to bail water out of the sinking boat.
They were able to keep it afloat until rescue teams arrived.
"When we dropped them off at the boat ramp they were eager to take our name and number and compensate us for any damages, to just say thank you," said Furgeson. "We just told them 'You're welcome' and to 'get home safely and get your boat fixed so you can get back out.'"