Authorities rescue a man floating in a reefer off the coast of Florida after Hurricane Milton

LONGBOAT KEY, Florida — According to the U.S. Coast Guard, a man was rescued Thursday after floating dozens of miles off Florida’s Gulf Coast, clinging to a refrigerator to stay afloat.

Authorities said an Air Station Miami 65 helicopter crew rescued the man, who was about 30 miles from Longboat Key, a city on the state’s Midwest Coast.

The Coast Guard said it contacted the man Wednesday evening, hours before Hurricane Milton made landfall, but lost contact with him at 6:45 p.m. EST.

“This man experienced a nightmare scenario for even the most experienced sailor,” said Lt. Cmdr. Dana Grady, head of the St. Sector command center. St. Petersburg.

“To understand the severity of hurricane conditions, we estimate that it experienced winds of approximately 75-90 mph and seas of 20-25 feet over an extended period, including overnight. He survived thanks to his life jacket and the locator indicated the emergency location of the lighthouse and refrigerator,” Grady continued in the statement.

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Hurricane Milton made landfall in the region Wednesday evening as a Category 3 storm, bringing with it dangerous storm surge, high winds and heavy rain.

Due to the storm’s severity, authorities across the state suspended some emergency services.

Authorities said that after being treated Thursday, the man was taken to Tampa General Hospital for medical care.