Surfer and fishermen rescue two people and a dog after boat capsizes
By John Perik
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PALM BEACH SHORES, Florida (WPBF) — A surfer and two local fishermen worked together Saturday to rescue two people and a dog after their boat capsized in rough waters off Palm Beach Shores.
AJ Castronovo, a surfer, witnessed the incident while riding waves.
“The second wave came; it was bigger, already breaking, and unfortunately, I noticed there was a boat,” Castronovo said. “It was right in front of the wave. That wave came and just absolutely rolled the boat over on its side. Both people were ejected from the boat.”
Castronovo quickly swam toward the capsized boat to help but found himself in danger as another wave approached.
“This boat is now coming at me. I figured this is about it for me; the boat is coming at me sideways, another wave behind it, nowhere for me to go,” he said.
Miraculously, Castronovo managed to swim underneath the overturned boat, where he found the two people in distress.
“They seemed like they were breathing in water, weren’t doing too well,” he said.
Castronovo pulled the pair onto his surfboard and began swimming them to safety. Soon, a local fisherman, Chad Smith, and his son arrived on a boat to assist.
“Chad Smith came up like he’s done it 100 times,” Castronovo said.
Together, they hoisted the man and woman onto the fishermen’s boat.
As the rescue concluded, Castronovo recalled a surprising moment.
“He starts pulling away, and we hear another surfer saying, ‘Hey, hey, what’s going on?’ He lifts his hand up in the air and says, ‘I got the dog,'” Castronovo said.
Authorities said the two people were taken to the hospital and are okay.
“If the people are out there, I hope you’re safe and get a new boat,” Castronovo said.
Riviera Beach Fire Rescue and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident, too.
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