Ex-college quarterback found alive after spending 12 hours on kayak near Florida coast
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A former college quarterback was found alive after he spent 12 hours lost at sea on a kayak near Florida’s coast.
Former University of South Carolina quarterback Chris Smelley told WBRC that he took his kayak out on a fishing excursion near Grayton Beach on Thursday morning.
“I got out there and right off the shore, the wind was just whipping and a lot stronger than it was at shore,” Smelley said. “I wish there was a story that a giant shark dragged me out or I was battling a sea monster – but it was really just nature. It was just the wind. My body was sitting up tall and I was basically just a big sail. I was giving it everything I could and there was a long period of time where I was at the mercy of the wind.”
The news station said Smelley’s wife called law enforcement officers after he had been gone for hours. Then the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Coast Guard and wildlife officials set out on their search for him.
A video from the U.S. Coast Guard shows crews rescuing Smelley about two miles offshore of Grayton Beach.
The video shows Smelley holding a fishing pole in one hand and waving the other to get the crew’s attention.
“I was just kind of in survival mode. I just threw my hands up and screamed,” Smelley told ABC News.
Smelley said he had no phone or life jacket. He said he wasn’t dehydrated, only slightly sunburned, and never thought the worst.
Walton County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Jeremy Fisher said Smelley handled the situation well.
“It’s not often that these things turn out the way this one did,” he told ABC News. “Unfortunately, when someone goes out without a life vest and on a kayak, they might come off the kayak and try to swim to shore, and then they don’t have anything to keep them afloat.”
Smelley thanked first responders for their efforts in a social media post.
“It’s been a wild 24 hours. God is good! The power of prayer was on display and was definitely felt!” he wrote on X. “The outpouring of support, calls, text messages, comments on social media, I feel so blessed and loved. Sorry I haven’t responded to all. Thank you for all the prayers and love!”
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