HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – A family’s evening boat trip took an unexpected turn when their vessel ran aground near the Alafia River on Saturday, May 24, 2025, prompting a late-night rescue by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO).
At approximately 9:13 p.m., HCSO deputies received a distress call from a family of four whose boat had become stuck south of Sunken and Bird Islands, located at the mouth of the Alafia River in Hillsborough Bay. These islands are part of the Richard T. Paul Alafia Banks Sanctuary, a designated Critical Wildlife Area.
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Deputies responded to the scene and were able to successfully free the grounded boat. All four family members were reported to be unharmed.
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“We’re always ready to respond on the water when someone needs our help,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. “I’m glad we could assist this family stuck on the water at night and see that they could safely return to shore.”
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