PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- An EPIRB saved the lives of three fishermen on a cold, dark Tuesday night.
Matthew Whalen, Christopher Whalen and Adam Triplett were 60-miles west of Anclote Key when a wave caused their 32-foot boat to take on water.
The men were sleeping and didn't have time to call for help.
The Coast Guard says an EPIRB device fell into the water and alerted rescuers instead.
"With the EPIRB going off we were able to locate the people and the vessel right away," said U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Kraig Jones. "(It) basically takes the search out of rescue."
It was extremely dark and the water was about 64 degrees.
"Without that device they probably only would have lasted an hour before they went into some type of hypothermic situation there," Jones said.
EPIRB devices have received a lot of attention in the Bay Area since the boating accident that involved the deaths of three football players who did not have one.
"Unfortunately, it took that situation to get people to be more receptive to EPIRBs," said Jim WIthers, manager of West Marine.
Withers says many wives have been purchasing the devices as gifts for their husbands.
"It's very much needed out in the Gulf when there's nobody else around," he said.
The EPIRB not only sends the boat's information and location to the Coast Guard but also serves as a beacon until they get there.
Watch the video here!
Thanks to Bay News 9 for this story.
