Man’s Survival on NFL Players’ Boat Was ‘Miracle,’ Doctor Says

The survival of Nick Schuyler, who endured almost two days at sea after a boating accident that probably cost two National Football League players and another person their lives, was nothing short of a miracle, his doctor said.

“To stay in the water for 46 hours and be alive afterwards is a miracle,” Dr. Mark Rumbak, who is treating Schuyler at Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Florida, said at a televised news conference.

Schuyler is in good condition today after recovering from moderate hypothermia, Rumbak said. The former University of South Florida football player spent about 46 hours clinging to the capsized boat in the Gulf of Mexico. When rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard two days ago, Schuyler had a body temperature of about 89 degrees (32 Celsius), the doctor said. The water temperature was in the mid-60s.

“That he even had the temperature that he had, I can’t explain it,” Rumbak said. “Some divine providence, I really think.”

Yesterday at sunset, the Coast Guard called off the search for Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper, NFL free agent Corey Smith, and former University of South Florida tight end Will Bleakley, who were also on the 21-foot vessel when it capsized as the anchor was being raised in stormy seas off Clearwater, Florida, at around 5 p.m. local time Feb. 28.

Schuyler had muscle damage to his legs, injured knees and was mildly dehydrated after his rescue, though there was no evidence that he was delusional, Rumbak said, adding that he did not know when Schuyler would be released from the hospital.

“He was upbeat when he came in,” Rumbak said. “He was very happy to be found alive, but I think he can’t get over the enormity of what has happened.”

Rumbak said some of Schuyler’s injuries occurred from contact with the boat, as he kept climbing on top of the capsized vessel only to have it shift and spill him back into the water.

50 Missions

The Coast Guard said it conducted more than 50 missions, searching an equivalent of more than 24,000 square miles (6,216 hectares) of ocean before calling an end to the rescue efforts. Yesterday afternoon, they found a life jacket and cooler about 16 miles southeast of where Schuyler was located.

Schuyler spoke briefly with the Coast Guard as he was being transported to the hospital, though he was “very exhausted and somewhat groggy” during the conversation, the Coast Guard said.

Bleakley was with South Florida in 2004-06, while Schuyler, who is now a personal trainer, was a walk-on defensive end for the team in 2006 and never played in a game, the school said.

“I think if he didn’t have that type of background, I don’t think he would have made it,” Rumbak said. “He is extremely tough mentally.”

Smith, 29, played defensive end for the Lions last season. He and Cooper, 26, were NFL teammates on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004.