Man rescued from disabled watercraft after drifting overnight off US Virgin Islands

Man on disabled watercraft rescued in USVI

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands — A U.S. Virgin Islands resident drifted in the Atlantic overnight on his disabled watercraft before being rescued by Coast Guard searchers some 10 miles (16 kilometers) northwest of St. Thomas.

The islands’ Department of Natural Resources identified the man as Junior Estrella, 32, a native of the Dominican Republic who lives in the U.S. territory. He was riding off St. Thomas beaches when the personal watercraft’s engine gave out Monday evening.

A Coast Guard statement says rescuers found him Tuesday aboard the drifting craft. He was flown by helicopter to a St. Thomas hospital.

Sam Topp, spokesman at Schneider Regional Medical Center, said Estrella was in stable condition, but was being held for observation.