Boat sinks, Texas man survives 30 hours in Gulf


March 27, 2012 at 1:00p.m.

Boat sinks, Texas man survives 30 hours in Gulf

CONROE, Texas (AP) — A Houston-area man has survived more than 30 hours in the water but his best friend died after their boat sank in the Gulf of Mexico.

Ken Henderson told the Conroe Courier that he swam for miles after the boat sank. Henderson said he reached an oil rig and was rescued Saturday.

Henderson says he and Ed Coen were fishing in Matagorda Bay on Thursday when the 30-foot boat started taking on water.

They tied their life jackets together. Henderson says both were suffering from hypothermia and dehydration when on Friday afternoon he untied the connecting strap and began to swim.

Henderson made it to a natural gas rig early Saturday, where he managed to reach the galley and phone for help.

A fisherman found Coen’s body.