FORT MYERS, Fla. (WFLA) – A boat trapped in a mangrove off the coast of San Carlos Island in Fort Myers was finally removed by the Fish and Wildlife Commission three years after it was initially stuck.
The boat has been there since Hurricane Ian, which stuck multiple ships on San Carlos Island. Over time, everything else was removed.
NBC affiliate Gulf Coast News reported that the boat was previously trapped on dry land and could not be removed, but partially moved into the water, allowing the FWC to reach it earlier this month.
Local business owner Stephanie Rochelle told Gulf Coast News it had been there for a long time, some thought the boat was there to stay.
“They brought in a helicopter and chopped up all the other boats. We thought it was gone and then they left and the boat was still there so we didn’t go anywhere,” Rochelle said.