THIS is the incredible moment a stranded sailor clinging to his life from a coolbox was rescued after Hurricane Milton.
The boat captain survived a “nightmare” as he was plucked from the sea by a rescue chopper after his vessel sank.
US Coast Guard released the incredible footage in the aftermath of the hurricane – that has so far killed 16 people.
Florida is still counting the costs and the human toll of Milton which barreled into the sunshine state late on Wednesday.
The fisherman- who has not been identified – was saved from certain death when he was rescued from the Gulf of Mexico.
He was left clinging on to a cooler some 30 miles out to sea off Longboat Key before he was found by the helicopter.
Coast Guard officials said the man had survived a “nightmare scenario”.
His fishing boat had become disabled off the coast on Monday – and he had returned to the vessel to try and save it early on Wednesday.
But as the storm worsened – it was too late for him to escape.
Emergency workers told him to wear a life jacket, keep an emergency radio on, and ride out the storm.
Milton then crashed into Florida bringing with it 120mph and dozens of tornadoes which ripped across the state.
But as the sun rose – the Coast Guard managed to find the man, estimated he had survived winds of up to 90mph and swells of 25ft.
He was found clinging to the cooler, wearing his life jacket, and clutching his emergency beacon.
Footage shows the moment the helicopter approaches the man hanging onto the white box in the churning sea.
Normally used for storing beers and snacks, he turned the cooler into a life-saving buoyancy aide.
The helicopter swept in and lowered a rescuer who plunged into the sea and saved the captain.
Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Dana Grady said: “This man survived in a nightmare scenario for even the most experienced mariner.”
Residents are rescued from an their second-story apartment complex in Clearwater[/caption]
A boat rests in a yard after it was washed ashore[/caption]
A view shows a collapsed construction crane that fell on the building in Tampa[/caption]
A house lies toppled off its stilts after the passage of Hurricane Milton[/caption]
Cars move slowly after Hurricane Milton damaged power lines[/caption]
The roof of the Tropicana Field is damaged the morning after Hurricane Milton hit the region[/caption]
A resident on Magnolia Avenue cradles his dog in a carrier in the floodwater[/caption]
Hurricane Milton left a devastating trail of destruction after carving a deadly path across Florida.
The monster storm triggered at least 27 tornadoes to rip through the state.
It has claimed at least 16 lives and plunged millions into darkness.
Cities were pounded with ferocious winds of up to 120mph and rain, intensifying the misery wrought by Hurricane Helene just two weeks ago.
Milton smashed into Florida as a Category 3 storm at about 8:30 pm on Wednesday near Siesta Key.
Dozens of people have been rescued from battered homes – and rescues are continuing across Florida.
Governor Ron DeSantis has warned the “water levels are forecast to continue rising”.
But he said the hurricane was “not the worst case scenario.”
DeSantis praised emergency workers and said there was still “work to do.”
He added: “The storm did weaken before landfall and the storm surge, as initially reported, has not been as significant overall as what was observed for Hurricane Helene.
“Right now, it looks like Sarasota County had the most significant storm surge.
“Likely somewhere between eight to 10ft, and remember with Helene we had 15 to 20 feet up in Taylor County.”
More than 80,000 people spent the night in shelters after thousands evacuated.
