Rescue of Winter Park father, son after hours in ocean 'a miracle'

Rescue of Winter Park father, son after hours in ocean 'a miracle'
Sara K. Clarke and Rachael Jackson Sentinel Staff Writers
1:35 PM EDT, September 8, 2008

A veteran with the Volusia County Beach Patrol called it "a miracle."

A 46-year-old Winter Park father and his 12-year-old autistic son were swept out to sea and endured more than 12 hours in ocean waters -- much of it apart from each other -- before being rescued Sunday morning.

"Fifteen hours floating in the ocean -- the probability of detection decreases substantially," said Petty Officer Jorel Wester, a Coast Guard officer from Ponce Inlet who had been involved in the rescue.

After Walter Marino and his son Chris went missing in the inlet Saturday, the Coast Guard launched an extensive search, including the use of a 47-foot rescue boat, water scooters and helicopters.
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