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Raft thrown to man on Little Manatee River when tide causes boat to capsize

A man fishing in the Little Manatee River reportedly got caught in the outgoing tide, causing his boat to capsize and him being stranded on top.
A man fishing in the Little Manatee River reportedly got caught in the outgoing tide, causing his boat to capsize and him being stranded on top.

Correction: The headline on this story previously stated the main was airlifted by helicopter. Rather, a helicopter crew threw a raft to the man to help get him to shore. It has been corrected.

RUSKIN, Fla. -- A 46-year-old man fishing in the Little Manatee River apparently was no match for Mother Nature as the outgoing tide caused him to become stranded on his capsized boat.

Robert Sickler told Hillsborough County deputies he was fishing alone when the tide began to move out from the river to the bay. Feeling then was the time to get to shore, the current became was too strong, and it pulled his boat into the U.S. 41 bridge pylon.

The impact caused his john boat to overturn.

Sickler tried to paddle to shore on top of the boat, but it was too strong and he became too tired, according to a news release.

Around 2 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, a resident called 911 to report hearing someone yelling for help in the area of Woodland Estates Avenue and 10th Street SW. Responding deputies threw a rope out to Sickler, but he was too far out into the river to catch it.

A county helicopter responded and lowered an inflatable raft to him. Sickler was able to make it to shore to be medically checked.

He was not hurt.

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