Man In Mental Health Crisis Rescued After Spending At Least An Hour In Florida River

Bradenton police rescued a 33-year-old man from the Manatee River after he was heard yelling for help shortly before 9 p.m. on September 12, 2026.

Officers responded to the river near 801 Riverside Drive East, the former Caddy’s. They could hear the man but could not see him.

A civilian boater took Sgt. Perez, Officer M. Wall and Officer Bautista onto the water while other officers remained on shore.

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit helped pinpoint the man’s location. After several minutes, officers reached him and pulled him aboard the boat.

The man said he had been in the water for at least an hour. Police said the 33-year-old was in a mental health crisis, and EMS transported him to a hospital.