KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. -- A 28-year-old boater is safe tonight after his boat sank off Key Biscayne, forcing him to tread water for seven hours.

He'd gone on a weekend fishing trip with his older brother. When the boat went down, the older brother swam for help.

Meanwhile, the 28-year-old clung to a cooler lid and was treading water for seven hours.

His family says he's normally a strong swimmer, but he's recently been having back problems.

Both brothers were taken to the hospital. Neither was wearing a life jacket when the boat sank.

First Coast News