‘Literally praying’: Couple stranded at sea after scuba diving trip goes wrong

BOCA GRANDE, Fla. (WINK) - A Florida couple say they are grateful to be alive after a routine scuba diving trip turned into a fight for survival.

Antonio “Tony” Rivera and Brianna Rutledge say they were diving Thursday afternoon five miles offshore near Boca Grande when their boat drifted away, leaving them stranded in open water.

“I panicked the first 10 seconds to two minutes, what seems like forever. I screamed on top of my lungs,” Rivera said. “I didn’t think this would ever happen.”

Rivera believes the boat’s anchor failed amid tough conditions. Winds were between 15 and 20 knots with seas building to 5 feet, and a small craft advisory was in place, according to the WINK Weather Authority.

“Every time you looked back to shore, you’re getting smoked, and we didn’t have our snorkels in our mouths,” Rivera said.

The couple say they started swimming on their backs as they made their way toward shore, fighting currents, waves and exhaustion. They eventually made it to a buoy 1.5 miles offshore and held on as conditions got worse.

“Literally praying. We knew there was going to be no help. We didn’t send a message to our families. We had nothing to contact anybody. In our minds, in our state at the time, there’s no hope. This is it,” Rivera said.

As night fell, Rivera says he used a dive light to signal there was a diver in the water, pointing it toward shore in hopes someone would see it. That signal was eventually spotted.

Charlotte County Fire & EMS says crews were dispatched at 8:19 p.m. after receiving a report of a flashing SOS light about 1 to 2 miles offshore. Nearly 40 minutes later, crews found Rivera and Rutledge in the water, clinging to a buoy.

Rivera told rescuers they had been in the water since around 2:30 p.m., more than six hours.

“Thank you so much,” he said. “We didn’t think you were real. There’s no amount of words to see that shine back.”

The couple say they’re grateful to be alive and credit their gear, training and persistence for helping them survive. They hope their story serves as a warning to others heading out on the water.

“Take your gear, take your light; it will save your life,” Rivera said.

The couple’s boat is still missing. They hope someone spots it and contacts authorities.