Manatee rescue mission captivates North Fort Myers residents

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla.—A quiet afternoon in North Fort Myers turned into a full-scale rescue mission when neighbors spotted a manatee struggling to stay afloat. 

The marine mammal, now affectionately named ‘Rocky’, is on its way to SeaWorld for rehabilitation.

Neighbors were relieved to hear that the manatee was receiving the help it needed. 

"He was just over here, and he was in bad shape, so he went swimming around, and then he ended up over here for like, three hours," said Roy Santoro, who noticed something was wrong.

Santoro stayed with the manatee for hours, waiting for rescue teams to arrive.

"They asked me to stay with them, because once they lose sight of them, they're impossible to find," Santoro said.

The rescue team needed a crew of eight to lift the manatee out of the water and into a boat.

"They came from this direction and pulled right in, backed right in, knew exactly what they were doing," Santoro said. "They throw a big net in the water, and then they surround them, and then they just slowly pull it in."

The rescue operation attracted a crowd from Bay Point, who cheered and clapped as the manatee was carefully lifted to safety.

"Well, they already named it, so I know, should we tell them we named it because he or she blended in so much with the rocks?" Santoro said. "The name Rocky was decided, and we figured Rocky was a tough fighter, so we're praying that Rocky will make it."