Florida men cling to tree over alligator-infested waters after capsizing boat

Two Florida men were left stranded clinging to a tree in alligator-infested waters after their boat capsized in Morris Bridge Park. 

The men were traveling downstream on the Hillsborough River on Tuesday when their boat tipped over and floated away leaving them with nowhere to go. 

Video footage released by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office captured the bizarre moment they were left balancing on a tree limb hanging over the river as they waited for help. The swampy green water surrounding them has been home to alligators, water snakes and a wide variety of wildlife. 

Sheriff officials responded to the park area around 3.30pm for a service call when they spotted the pair about 3,000 feet away from the original boat launch site. 

‘Both men were safely rescued by our deputies and a Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) officer. Thankfully, neither was injured,’ the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Facebook statement. 

Authorities in the video could be seen pulling the boaters alongside them to safety as the two men carefully climbed off the tree. The deputies were also accompanied by a Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission officer.  

According to the Hillsborough County Florida government website, Morris Bridge Park is well-known for its wildlife with ‘frequent sightings of alligators, turtles, water snakes, frogs, and wading birds.’

In late July, the website released a statement encouraging Floridians to stay aware and alert of their surroundings near any natural bodies of water. 

‘They play an important role in the state’s ecosystem, and residents and visitors should always assume an alligator could be present in any freshwater body,’ they wrote. 

Their instructions included to avoid approaching, feeding, or interacting with alligators and if the animal is close by to give it plenty of space to move away on its own. 

‘Though serious alligator attacks are rare, recent incidents involving alligators across the state underscore the importance of following a few simple safety precautions near lakes, ponds, rivers, wetlands, and canals,’ they wrote. 

The police did not report that the stranded boaters were approached or attacked by any alligators or wildlife while stranded. 

At this time, it is not clear what caused the boat to capsize or how long the men were on the tree limb waiting for help. 

According to the HCSO, the ‘capsized boat was not located’ after their rescue.    

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for comment.