Two boaters found themselves stranded on a tree limb over the Hillsborough River on Tuesday afternoon after their vessel capsized and floated downriver near Morris Bridge Park. The pair remained there until rescuers could reach them, and both were pulled from the water without injury.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
, deputies responded to a service call near the park at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 15. The boaters were spotted roughly 3,000 feet downriver from the boat launch site.
The boaters were stranded on a tree limb
after their boat capsized and floated away from them downstream. HCSO deputies and a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer ultimately rescued both boaters safely, and neither sustained injuries in the incident.
A Recurring Hazard Along the River Corridor
The incident also highlighted the challenges of river rescues.
The Hillsborough River near the park cuts through the 16,000-acre Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve in Thonotosassa, a conservation area managed with the Southwest Florida Water Management District that includes cypress swamps and 13 miles of river channel. Trees are also found along the river.
Sheriff's Office Leans on Specialized Gear
The sheriff's office maintains a fleet of specialized watercraft and amphibious vehicles, including airboats, SAFE boats, and amphibious SHERP vehicles. That equipment has been put to use in water-rescue operations.
Whether Tuesday's capsized boat has since been recovered, or whether it remains an obstruction in the waterway, has not been reported. It's also unclear whether either boater faced citations under Florida's boating safety regulations.
Florida's Boating Safety Numbers Paint a Grim Picture
Boating safety remains a concern for people on Florida waterways.
Statewide, boating safety remains a concern during river patrols.
Tuesday's rescue follows a 2025 rescue of five people from a sinking boat near Tampa Bay's Spoil Island by the HCSO Marine Section, with help from civilian boats.
