November 14, 2024 – Charlotte County, FL
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit provided aerial assistance to other agencies in two rescues during the past week, one of an injured woman and one of a trapped manatee.
On November 8, CCSO was asked to provide assistance to Florida Wish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the SWFL Tampa Zoo, and Clearwater Marine Aquarium in locating a trapped manatee. The eight-foot female had entered a closed canal system during flooding from Hurricane Milton and was unable to get back out once the floodwaters receded. The Aviation Unit provided eyes in the sky and were able to spot the manatee in an area where locals indicated it had been seen. Thanks to the efforts of all involved, the animal was safely secured in a net and taken to be checked out by a biologist to determine if any treatment was necessary before release.
On Wednesday, November 6, our Aviation Unit was requested to assist North Port first responders as they worked to locate a woman who was experiencing a medical emergency. The woman had fallen and sustained an injury to her head, resulting in erratic behavior. She ran into a heavily wooded lot and efforts to locate her had been unsuccessful. Using thermal imaging, the CCSO Aviation Unit was able to pinpoint her location and relay that to responders on the ground. The woman was safely extracted and taken to a local hospital for medical care.
“My Aviation Unit provides such an invaluable service to not only Charlotte County, but our surrounding areas as well. They do everything from mosquito control to fire suppression to longline rescues and more. I cannot speak highly enough about the work that they do and their dedication to serving our community and helping our brothers and sisters in other local agencies. This team makes me proud every single day.”
Sheriff Bill Prummell
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