3 FIU students found after going missing in Everglades

EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK, Fla. (WSVN) – Three Florida International University students who went missing in the Everglades overnight, have been found.

According to park rangers, the three college students were found close to the Broad River, near Everglades City around 9 a.m., Thursday.

7Skyforce flew over the scene in Monroe County, where the students’ boat could be seen being towed back to shore.

The three student researchers left Flamingo Marina around 8 a.m., Wednesday, and within two hours, they began to have engine trouble. Initial reports of the missing students came in from the White Water Bay at Everglades National Park, around 10:51 p.m., Wednesday.

“We didn’t know they were in trouble until around 3 p.m., when they were supposed to be back,” said Flamingo Marina District Ranger Tony Terry.

Coast Guard officials had to wait for the sun to come up before they could begin the search. “We launched a helicopter out of Air Station Miami and did a search last night,” said U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Eric Woodal. “They resumed the search this morning and were found by the National Fire Service at about 9 a.m. this morning.”

One of the students recounted his time out at sea. “We went out, we were just out close to the Gulf of Mexico,” said FIU student Peter Regier. “We broke down, we had some engine trouble. Then, we had a little bit of radio trouble. We weren’t able to get a hold of anyone, so we spent the night out there.”

After arriving on land, the students were exhausted, mosquito bitten but extremely thankful. “We’re very grateful with the park service for locating them and the Coast Guard for locating them and bringing them back,” said Piero Gardinali with the Southeast Environmental Research Center FIU.

FIU also thanked those who aided in the search, saying in a tweet, “We thank the National Park Service and the U.S. Coast Guard for their help in resolving this situation.”

Thursday marked another day of hard work that paid off for the men and women who spent hours searching the Everglades. “It’s part of the job, but I’m always happy when it comes out to a good ending, and I feel like I’m doing my job,” Terry said.

According to authorities, the three college students were out collecting water samples on a 21-foot vessel and were due back from their research trip Wednesday afternoon.

Two of the researchers are Ph.D. candidates in the College of Arts, Sciences and Education. The third is a visiting scientist from China.

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