A dramatic rescue near Marco Island took a bizarre turn on March 6 when a man saved from a burning vessel allegedly turned on his rescuer. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), 40-year-old Ryan Dieter was pulled from a fire-engulfed boat by a Sea Tow captain.
However, once safely on board the rescue vessel, Dieter reportedly shoved the captain into the water and sped off in the tow boat, leaving the Good Samaritan behind.
Local authorities launched an immediate search after the captain was left stranded. Dieter eventually grounded the stolen boat and fled on foot. Following a brief pursuit, law enforcement located him naked in a nearby mangrove thicket.
The Sea Tow captain was later found and reported safe.
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Public arrest records from Collier County show that Dieter was taken into custody on March 7. He faces several serious charges, including grand theft, resisting arrest, operating a vessel while impaired, and burglary involving assault or battery.
While the FWC and the Sheriff’s Office have handled the primary investigation, further details regarding the cause of the initial boat fire have not been released.
Dieter is currently being held without public bond information and is scheduled for a court appearance on March 30.
Despite the chaotic nature of the theft and the subsequent manhunt, officials confirmed that no life-threatening injuries were reported during the rescue or the arrest.
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