New Smyrna Beach man rescued after boat hits jetties

April 26, 2004

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Coast Guard Station Ponce Inlet and local EMS units rescued a New Smyrna Beach man after the 17-foot pleasure craft he was in hit the tip of the North jetties at Ponce Inlet about 1:15 a.m. today.

Buell Fidler, 47, of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., suffered a separated shoulder and a possible spinal injury. Fidler stated he couldn’t move his legs. Two other men who were on board the 17-foot boat when it ran into the rocks; Ricky Foye, 46, of Edgewater, Fla. and Vincent Rodocker, 39 of New Smyrna Beach, Fla.; reportedly suffered minor cuts and bruises.

Emergency medical personnel from Coast Guard Station Ponce Inlet and Daytona Beach Patrol worked to immobilize Fidler using a C-collar and backboard. A Coast Guard Air Station Savannah HH-65 Dolphin helicopter rescue crew was airborne at 3:30 a.m. en route Ponce Inlet. The helicopter crew arrived on scene about 4:50 a.m. and hoisted Fidler up to the Dolphin helicopter about 5:20 a.m. today. The Air Station Savannah rescue crew flew Fidler to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona, Fla.and arrived about 5:40 a.m. today.

The Coast Guard was originally notified of the boating accident via a 911 phone call. After the accident occurred, either Foye or Rodocker, reportedly walked down the jetties and came across a fisherman who had a cell phone.

The Coast Guard reminds boaters to always have two forms of communication on your vessel. The preferred for of communication is a VHF radio. The Coast Guard always monitors CH. 16, the international hailing and distress frequency. Cell phones should be considered a secondary form of communication due to their limited range and inability to work once wet.

FWCC is investigating the cause of the accident.

New Smyrna Beach man rescued after boat hits jetties

FWCC is investigating the cause of the accident.

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