The saviors of Sanibel Island! Heroic Coast Guard crew shares footage of its dramatic rescues from island cut-off by Hurricane Ian

• U.S. Coast Guard shows a Miami-based aircrew in an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter rescuing several people from cut-off Sanibel Island in southwest Florida 
• A number of rescues are depicted including one of a grandmother and grandson
• In a second rescue, a woman is airlifted alongside a pet carrier containing her cat
• A married couple is next to be airlifted from a home surrounded by fallen trees and a driveway caked in sand washed ashore by the storm surge 

Incredible footage has been released by the U.S. Coast Guard as they soared over Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian and flew around rescuing people from the driveway of their homes. 

Video released by the U.S. Coast Guard sees a heroic MH-65 Dolphin Crew fly to Sanibel Island, which was essentially cut off after Hurricane Ian’s wind and storm surge tore it to shreds.

It prompted a massive rescue effort, some of which have been captured in a video posted online by the rescuers.

Wearing a GoPro on his helmet, Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Kilbane is lowered into one of the neighborhoods ravaged by the storm to find a young man by the name of Colin, together with his grandmother, standing in the driveway of their home alongside the family dog. 

U.S. Coast Guard shows a Miami-based aircrew in a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter rescue several people from cut off Sanibel Island in southwest Florida

A number of rescues are depicted including one of a grandmother, grandson and their dog

Tyler tells the young man that he did a good job signaling for help from the ground

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The family appear delighted that rescuers have finally come to their aide

The grandmother is next to be placed into the rescue basket

The woman clings on tight before being hoisted up into the helicopter

‘You did good!’ Kilbane told the pair as he commended them for getting the attention of the crew using a reflector. 

The guardsman asks them if they knew of anyone else had been left in the neighborhood, to which the residents answer that they did not. 

The woman was the first to be placed into the rescue basket which was then hoisted into the chopper a few hundred feet above. 

Kilbane then came back to retrieve the pet dog together with grandson Colin who were next to climb into the basket to be airlifted to safety. 

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Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Kilbane gives the signal for the basket to be raised up 

Colin is seen to be clutching onto his pet dog while sitting in the rescue basket 

Petty Officer Kilbane’s crew welcome him back on board the rescue helicopter

Colin holds his dog close to him before being hoisted onboard the chopper

Next, the crew move onto rescue another couple who are trapped with their homes surrounded by floodwaters.

Tyler informs them that there are thousands that need to be rescued.

He advises them to pack a bag with dry clothes and to remember to take their cellphones, wallets and IDs.

The couple evacuate through an open window and take their family cat with them before they too are hoisted away.

The Coast Guard has described their rescue effort as a military operation. With not everybody having access to cellphone communications, some have had to resort to signaling for help from the ground using mirrors and pieces of glass.

In another rescue, a man greets the arrival of Tyler with a warm handshake. The neighborhood appears devastated with fallen trees surrounding the area.

The man, by the name of Rick, allows his wife to get into the basket first. 

The helicopter’s rescue basket descends to allow her to get in before she is given ear plugs to to wear and is reassured that ‘they’ll take care of you.’

‘Hang on tight!’ he yells before she is hoisted away.

Her husband is next to leave their damaged home wearing just a t-shirt, shorts and a baseball cap.

The chopper can be seen hovering above as he walks along a driveway caked in sand washed ashore by the storm surge.

The basket lowers and he clambers aboard, looking at Tyler once more for reassurance before the is reunited with his wife aboard the copter.

A married couple are next to be airlifted from a home surrounded by fallen trees and driveway caked in sand washed ashore by the storm surge

A man welcomed the crew with a warm handshake as he meets Tyler 

The man’s wife is first to be rescues as she is placed into the basket and hold on

A man is next to be rescued and grabs hold of a bag containing the bare essentials including a set of dry clothes

Both fear and delight can be seen across the man’s face as he is winched up to safety

Tyler and his crew mate fist bump one another after a round of rescues well done

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