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Rescue on water earns praise for Gulf High students

Carl Orth/SUNCOAST

On Tuesday, June 23, the Pasco County Commission honored brothers who attend Gulf High School for bravery. Garrett Pinder, left, and brother Patrick flank Pasco County Commission Chairman Jack Mariano.

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SUNCOAST NEWS STAFF REPORT

Published: June 24, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - A rescue in the gulf brought accolades for New Port Richey brothers Patrick and Garrett Pinder, along with their father.

Pasco County commissioners honored the family Tuesday for quick action in the May 10 rescue of a couple that had been floating adrift in the Gulf of Mexico for nearly a day. Patrick, 18, and Garret, 17, attend Gulf High School.

The Pinder brothers and their dad, also named Patrick, were scuba diving and fishing with spear guns in the gulf near Hernando Beach, the county proclamation explains. While their father was diving, the younger Patrick and Garrett noticed a man in the distance waving an inflatable floatation device.

The boys untied their father's boat from a buoy and headed over to investigate. They found Timothy and Paula Allen of Ocoee. The couple had been stranded after being separated from their boat.

After taking the Allens aboard, the boys returned to pick up their father, who then radioed the Coast Guard for help.

Ocoee Mayor Scott Vandergrift and Charlie Brown, the police chief of the Orlando-area city, also took the opportunity to honor the Pinder brothers for their heroism.

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