PALM CITY, FL -- Patrick Scartozzi has what he calls a "death photo". It's the picture Ft. Lauderdale Fire Rescue uses in case something happens to the Lieutenant.
It's the picture his friends showed us Friday night.
Scartozzi, who lives in Palm City, went out with a friend to dive Friday. The two were spearfishing about seven miles off the coast of Jensen Beach.
Scartozzi, 43, began diving at 16 and once worked as a commercial fisherman. He thought this would be a quick trip under the water.
Scartozzi spent the next 22 hours floating in the Atlantic Ocean.
He tells us he went under the water for ten minutes. He resurfaced and noticed his friend turning the boat south to alert two fishing boats in the area. The current carried Scartozzi north, quickly away from the boat.
After a few hours in the water, Scartozzi knew his friend couldn't find him. He saw Coast Guard helicopters flying overhead and tried to get their attention.
At one point, Scartozzi shot his speargun into his scooter. He thought the flash would catch the eye of rescuers overhead. The gun instead kicked back and broke his hand, causing it to bleed in the process.
Scartozzi was then alone in the ocean; the sun was setting and he was bleeding.
"I pretty much got into position where I began a slow kick to shore," says Scartozzi. "And just got into position on my back and pretty much kicked towards shore all night."
Scartozzi's fins kicked up plankton and left a glowing green trail in the dark ocean. He felt a fish bump his leg. And he had visitors.
"I had the porpoises at like I'd say about three o'clock," he says. "I could hear the porpoises show up about three or four in the morning. You could hear him doing their little squeaking. And they hung out with me for about an hour."
At daybreak, Scartozzi spotted the condominiums on Hutchinson Island. He turned his burned face away from the sun, towards shore and kept kicking.
Around 9 a.m., a Coast Guard helicopter flew overhead once again. This time it made a quick U-turn. Rescuers dropped a bucket down to Scartozzi and hauled him to safety.
He was treated for dehydration at St. Mary's Medical Center and also underwent two surgeries for his broken hand. His face is peeling from the sunburn.
Patrick Scartozzi has a "death photo", but he doesn't need it. After 22 hours in the Atlantic Ocean, this diver and firefighter is very much alive.
