POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Two pilots were rescued Thursday after two separate crashes in Polk County.

  • Pilot Jeff Wright still in hospital after crash
  • Wright's gyrocopter crashed in Polk on Thursday
  • Sheriff's Office helicopter also crashed while trying to assist

According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, a gyrocopter, flown by 56-year-old Jeff Wright from Lutz, went down Thursday afternoon on the Mosaic property near County Line Road East. 

Officials said a Sheriff's Office helicopter, flown by 52-year-old Lavon Hughes, responded to the scene and also went down. 

The area where the landings occurred is extremely rural, wet, and mucky.

The two pilots could not be reached by deputies on foot, boats, or all-terrain vehicles, and additional agencies responded to assist.

A Coast Guard helicopter crew was able to pull the men out of the pond.

"One of them [Wright] was beat up pretty good," said Coast Guard pilot Lieutenant Junior Grade Cody Harris. "The other [Hughes] was still able to walk on his own."

"The pilot from the gyrocopter was laying in the mud trying not to sink down," said Coast Guard flight mechanic Eric Bereveskos. "The other pilot was standing in the reeds so that he didn't sink."

The Coast Guard crew called it a tricky rescue due to the muddy conditions.

"[The swimmer] gets about five feet above ground and I continue to put him down and he immediately gives me the hand signal 'come back up' because he sinks up to his chest," Bereveskos explained.

The crew brought that swimmer back up, regrouped, and then changed their rescue plan, sending two swimmers down who eventually were able to retrieve the pilots.

"If the sun would have set, it would've made it 10 times harder," Bereveskos said.

Both men were transported to Tampa General Hospital to be checked out.

"I'd like to thank the other agencies who came out this afternoon such as Polk Fire Rescue, FWC, Mosaic personnel, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Seminole County Sheriff's Office, and the United States Coast Guard. This was an extraordinary situation, and we're happy that both men were not seriously hurt," said Sheriff Grady Judd.

Hughes has since been released, but officials said Wright is currently still in the hospital. Both are expected to be OK.