TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida man found himself needing a rescue on Sunday while drifting in the Caribbean Sea approximately 20 nautical miles south of Guanica, Puerto Rico, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard said a helicopter crew rescued Keith Mcpartlan, 42, who abandoned a 48-foot ship and got into a lifeboat when he became concerned the boat would capsize.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos found the boat Sunday morning going in circles with no one on board. Around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Mcpartlan’s lifeboat was found, and he was hoisted from the waters onto the aircraft, the Coast Guard said.

“Our crew was notified of this distress situation due to emergency position indicating radio beacon alert,” said Lt. Stan Raymond, Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter co-pilot for the case. “We cannot stress how important it is to have the proper lifesaving equipment. Great effort on all fronts and glad our crew was able to hoist the survivor and take him to safety!” 

Mcpartlan was taken to the Fernando Luis Ribas-Dominicci Aiport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.