‘It was a good birthday now’: Man’s 70th celebration turns into 20-hour fight for survival, and he wasn’t alone out there

Four family members were rescued by the US Coast Guard after their birthday fishing trip turned into a 20-hour survival ordeal. They were found 26 miles off the coast of Clearwater, Florida, clinging to their capsized boat.

According to New York Post, the trip was meant to celebrate Dennis Woods‘ 70th birthday. He brought along three relatives: 90-year-old Clarence Woods, 42-year-old Cris Harding Sr., and 18-year-old Chris Harding Jr. The group ranged from a teenager to a 90-year-old, making the situation even more dangerous. 

They left the Seminole Street Boat Ramp around 9:30 AM in their 25-foot catamaran called “Money Well Wasted.” They planned to return by 4:00 PM, but things went terribly wrong. Captain Dennis Woods said the disaster happened shockingly fast. Water suddenly flooded one side of the catamaran, causing the back to sink. Before they could react, water poured over the stern. The entire boat flipped in less than five minutes.

The boat sank faster than anyone expected

Captain Dennis Woods said the disaster happened shockingly fast. Water suddenly flooded one side of the catamaran, causing the back to sink. Before they could react, water poured over the stern. The entire boat flipped in less than five minutes.

Woods didn’t waste time calling for help right away. Instead, he focused on the most at-risk passengers. “It was probably less than five minutes before it rolled, and I didn’t have time to contact the Coast Guard. We were more worried about getting the life jacket on the 90-year-old and the 18-year-old,” he said. Getting life jackets on the oldest and youngest passengers first was a smart decision that likely saved lives.

When the group didn’t return in the evening, worried family members called the Clearwater Police Department around 8:30 PM. This started a major search involving the US Coast Guard, Clearwater Police, Clearwater Fire and Rescue, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. While this birthday celebration ended safely, not all birthday events have happy endings.

After spending the night on the overturned boat, help finally arrived Tuesday morning. A US Coast Guard plane from Air Station Miami spotted them around 7:15 AM. Video footage showed all four men waving frantically at the aircraft above. In recent months, another birthday party turned dangerous when violence erupted.

The plane dropped a life raft and a marker to help a Coast Guard boat find them. After 20 hours at sea, all four were rescued and taken to Morton Hospital. They’re all in stable condition. Despite the terrifying experience, Dennis Woods found a bright side. “It was a good birthday now that I’m back on land,” he said.