Dramatic rescue of 34 Cuban rafters near the Florida Keys

The US Coast Guard rescued 34 Cubans who were clinging to a boat that sank nine miles off the Florida Keys.

The incident occurred on Friday when the immigrants were sighted by a boater who notified the authorities and remained at the scene until rescuers arrived, the channel reported. Local 10.

The Cubans were around the sunken ship secured with some ropes, and according to their first statements they had been at sea for at least two days.

The boater was identified as Captain Marty Lewis, and he provided tourist service on the Main Attraction Sportfishing Charter.
He said he was approximately ten miles offshore from Key Colony Beach when he saw the migrants clinging to the sinking boat, called the USCG and remained at the scene.

He also stated that he noticed something in the water and at first thought "it was like a tree or something like that."

He commented that this is not a tourist season because many people do not travel abroad at the end of the year, and that "if we had not followed them, it is possible that they would never have been found."

"At least everyone stayed on the boat and held on to what was left," said Lewis, who clarified that 90% of the boat was submerged, as shown in a video from the channel. Local 10.

Authorities said all passengers were located, transferred to a ship where they were provided with food, water and basic medical care before being repatriated to Cuba.