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Florida man rescued after plane crashes into Gulf of Mexico on August 13

Following a Gulf of Mexico plane crash on Sunday, a Florida man, Pilot Adam Joseph Barney, was rescued and survived with minor injuries

SAWYER KEY, FLORIDA: A rescue operation unfolded as a plane crashed into the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida on Sunday, August 13.

The Florida man and pilot, identified as 40-year-old Adam Joseph Barney, was at the helm of an Aero Commander 500 aircraft when the incident occurred.

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office responded swiftly to the crash after receiving the alert at 10:18 a.m. The aircraft reportedly went down approximately three miles away from Sawyer Key, an island within the Florida Keys.

Deputy Trevor Pike's vital role in swift rescue of Adam Joseph Barney 

Despite the severity of the crash, the Florida man, Adam Joseph Barney, emerged with no life-threatening injuries. Fortunately, there were no other passengers aboard the plane at the time of the accident.

Deputy Trevor Pike played a crucial role in the rescue effort, transporting Adam Joseph Barney to the awaiting paramedics stationed at Cudjoe Key.

During the transportation, Adam Joseph Barney shared insights into the ordeal. In a video documenting the rescue, the Florida man recounted that he was en route to pick up a friend when the unfortunate crash occurred.

Adam Joseph Barney's hour-long struggle

Adam Joseph Barney's resilience was evident as he had been in the water for nearly an hour before assistance arrived.

In an exchange with Deputy Pike. The Florida man revealed his determination to survive, saying, "I just started swimming. I saw the balloon and I knew shore was that way, so I was like, ‘I’ll eventually make it or drown.’ One or the other."

The US Coast Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission joined forces with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office to ensure the successful rescue operation. Investigations into the crash are likely to ensue.