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Home » Sports » American Football
Survivor found clinging on overturned boat off Florida
March 4, 2009, Wednesday
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A MISSING boater found clinging to an overturned boat was rescued on Monday off Florida's Gulf Coast, but the search continued for two NFL players and another man aboard who didn't return from a weekend fishing trip.
Survivor Nick Schuyler, a former University of South Florida player, told rescuers that the boat was anchored when it flipped on Saturday evening in rough seas and that the others got separated from the boat, Captain Timothy M. Close said. Schuyler, who was wearing a life vest, had been clinging to the boat since then.
The boat belongs to Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper, who along with free-agent defensive lineman Corey Smith and former South Florida player William Bleakley, remained missing.
The Coast Guard wouldn't speculate on the men's chances of survival, but Petty Officer Robert Simpson said their size and good health were advantages. Cooper, 26, is 1.91 meters, 104 kilograms and the 29-year-old Smith is 1.88 meters, 113 kilograms. The 25-year-old Bleakley had played tight end.
"With all of these men being past, present football players, they do have a much larger physique than a lot of people," he said. "So their odds are going to be definitely in their favor."
Schuyler was conscious but appeared weak as he was being taken off a helicopter at Tampa General Hospital and placed on a stretcher. His father said his son was in serious but stable condition and that he "looks OK."
Schuyler's mother, Marsha Schuyler, said her son told her that he survived by thinking about how he didn't want her to go to his funeral.
The family's joy at him being found alive was tempered by the search for his friends.
"We still have three men missing, and we're not going to talk too much until we find these guys," said his father, Stuart Schuyler. "We're all praying for them. These guys are all very close friends."
The four left Clearwater Pass early on Saturday in calm weather, but heavy winds picked up through the day and the seas got heavy on Sunday. A relative alerted the Coast Guard early on Sunday after the men did not return as expected.
Cooper and Smith, who were teammates with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004, have been on fishing trips before, according to Ron Del Duca, Smith's agent.
The 29-year-old Smith had 30 tackles, including three sacks, and an interception in 12 games last season for the Detroit Lions.
Cooper, 26, has spent five seasons with five different teams, appearing in 26 games with the Buccaneers in 2004 and 2005, but playing sparingly since.
Survivor Nick Schuyler, a former University of South Florida player, told rescuers that the boat was anchored when it flipped on Saturday evening in rough seas and that the others got separated from the boat, Captain Timothy M. Close said. Schuyler, who was wearing a life vest, had been clinging to the boat since then.
The boat belongs to Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper, who along with free-agent defensive lineman Corey Smith and former South Florida player William Bleakley, remained missing.
The Coast Guard wouldn't speculate on the men's chances of survival, but Petty Officer Robert Simpson said their size and good health were advantages. Cooper, 26, is 1.91 meters, 104 kilograms and the 29-year-old Smith is 1.88 meters, 113 kilograms. The 25-year-old Bleakley had played tight end.
"With all of these men being past, present football players, they do have a much larger physique than a lot of people," he said. "So their odds are going to be definitely in their favor."
Schuyler was conscious but appeared weak as he was being taken off a helicopter at Tampa General Hospital and placed on a stretcher. His father said his son was in serious but stable condition and that he "looks OK."
Schuyler's mother, Marsha Schuyler, said her son told her that he survived by thinking about how he didn't want her to go to his funeral.
The family's joy at him being found alive was tempered by the search for his friends.
"We still have three men missing, and we're not going to talk too much until we find these guys," said his father, Stuart Schuyler. "We're all praying for them. These guys are all very close friends."
The four left Clearwater Pass early on Saturday in calm weather, but heavy winds picked up through the day and the seas got heavy on Sunday. A relative alerted the Coast Guard early on Sunday after the men did not return as expected.
Cooper and Smith, who were teammates with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004, have been on fishing trips before, according to Ron Del Duca, Smith's agent.
The 29-year-old Smith had 30 tackles, including three sacks, and an interception in 12 games last season for the Detroit Lions.
Cooper, 26, has spent five seasons with five different teams, appearing in 26 games with the Buccaneers in 2004 and 2005, but playing sparingly since.
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