Missing Florida sailor found clinging to capsized vessel

A sailor who was reported missing at sea over the weekend has been recovered after he was spotted clinging to his capsized vessel off the Florida coast.

Stuart Bee, 62, set sail on Friday afternoon from Cape Marina at Port Canaveral on his 10m (32ft)-long boat.

Authorities were alerted on Saturday, after he failed to return to port.

He was discovered clutching part of his overturned boat by the crew of a passing container vessel, 86 miles (138km) off Cape Canaveral on Sunday.

The container ship, the Angeles, pulled Mr Bee from the water after throwing him a buoy, and then notified the US Coast Guard, which immediately deployed a crew to retrieve him.

Images of the moment Mr Bee was rescued showed how he held on to a small section of his overturned boat. which was protruding from the surface. Other images showed him climbing on board the Angeles container vessel.

"Saving lives at sea is our highest calling," said Capt Mark Vlaun, commanding officer of the Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville.

"This is a truly incredible outcome that demonstrates the bond among all mariners and our community," he added.

A spokesman for the US Coast Guard, David Micallef, told local media that Mr Bee, from Florida, had decided to spend a night or two on his boat, which was unusual for him. Unfortunately, he was awoken during the night on Saturday after water flooded his cabin.

His vessel quickly capsized, Mr Micallef said, and the water "pushed him out of the front hatch". He then clung to part of the boat's bow, and it was not until Sunday, after sunrise, that he spotted the container ship on the horizon.