Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
-Patrol Central District
-Marine Unit

Deputy Bryant Duncan (Patrol Central District)
Age: 38
Hire Date: 05/21/2007

Deputy Christopher Giles (Marine Unit)
Age: 33
Hire Date: 09/06/2005

Deputy Jeremy Kurella (Marine Unit)
Age: 36
Hire Date: 09/06/2005

Natasha N. Thompkins (Rescued)
DOB: 04/13/1985
Address: 1857 Broadway St Decatur, Georgia

Cedric L. Williams (Rescued)
DOB: 12/23/1985
Address: 1857 Broadway St Decatur, Georgia

What:
Deputies have rescued two Georgia visitors after they fell off a personal watercraft and into rough seas in the Gulf of Mexico.

When:
The incident occurred at about 5:15 p.m. on Friday, May 29, 2015.

Where:
The rescue occurred in the Gulf of Mexico just west of John’s Pass in Madeira Beach.

Why/How:
According to deputies, the initial call out advised two subjects had fallen off a personal watercraft and that due to the wind, waves and current, the subjects had been unable to get back on their watercraft because it was drifting away at a fast pace. Deputies responded and began to search for the two individuals.

Central District Patrol Deputy Bryant Duncan was the first to arrive on scene and from land was able to locate the drifting vessel just west of 133rd Avenue West and Gulf Boulevard in Madeira Beach. Utilizing his binoculars Deputy Duncan then spotted the two subjects bobbing up and down in rough two to four foot waves.

Deputies say Deputy Duncan then guided Marine Unit Deputies Christopher Giles and Jeremy Kurella to the location where he had last observed them, which was approximately 200 yards away from their personal watercraft.

Deputies Giles and Kurella located the male and female subjects and assisted them onto the Sheriff’s Office vessel. The subjects later identified as 29-year-old Cedric Williams and 30-year-old Natasha Thompkins, advised they were aboard a rental personal watercraft when they hit a large wave and were ejected. They told deputies they were unable to get back to the watercraft because it was drifting faster than they could swim.

Deputies say the two were wearing personal flotation devices.

The Marine Unit  transported Williams and Thompkins to Don’s Dock where Madeira Beach Fire Rescue personnel met them. Deputies say the two did not require medical attention.

The 2015 Yamaha personal watercraft was recovered.