He Had Gone Missing During a Fishing Trip
Gregory had embarked on a fishing trip off the St. Augustine coast when a large wave knocked him off his boat.
Source: TAFishing/Youtube
Fortunately, he managed to climb back aboard the small watercraft before the tide sent him even farther out to sea. For the next 30 hours, he remained inside the partially submerged boat while others on land grew increasingly concerned for his safety and well-being.
He Suffered From Sunburns, Freezing Nights, and Jellyfish Stings
His father, Raymond Gregory, spoke to CNN about the pain his son experienced while being exposed to the elements for nearly a day and a half. He revealed that his son suffered from significant sunburns from the extremely hot sun during the day.
Source: Erica Price/Getty Images
He also braved freezing cold temperatures at night – an issue that was intensified by his sunburnt skin. Jellyfish also attacked the young man, painfully stinging him all over.
He Did Everything He Could to Stay Alive
Charles Gregory tried everything he could to get rescued. While his situation was extremely stressful, he was able to think of logical ways to survive until someone found him.
Source: Getty Images
Desperate to stay alive, he removed the boat’s motor to keep it afloat. He also removed his swim trunks and used them to flag down nearby boats or aircrafts in hopes of getting rescued. “He was scared to death,” his father told CNN.
Thankfully, He is on the Road to Recovery
Charles Gregory is expected to make a full recovery, but he has a long road ahead before he starts feeling like himself again.
Source: Joe Perez/US Coast Guard
In addition to limited mobility from his sunburns, doctors diagnosed him with a heat-related medical condition called rhabdomyolysis. He’s fortunate to be alive, his father says, adding, “At the end of the day, the whole moral of the story is: don’t ever give up.”