Miami Beach Lifeguard Sets Paddleboard Record
KEY WEST (CBS4) – The second time was the charm for a Miami Beach lifeguard who has completed a paddleboard crossing of the Florida Straits from near Cuba to Key West.
Cynthia Aguilar finished the 103.2-mile journey, beginning about 14 miles off northern Cuba, in 29 hours and 12 minutes Thursday.
She is the first solo prone paddleboarder (propelling the board with her arms) to cross the Florida Straits and, when verified, should set a record for the longest nonstop prone paddle.
Aguilar dragged her paddleboard on the beach to cheering crowds. She hugged her parents and as a supporter uncorked a bottle of champagne, Aguilar grabbed it and doused her board.
"Everybody here kept me going to prove that anything is possible no matter what," said a jubilant Aguilar. "You're knocked down, you get up, you keep fighting — you keep paddling no matter what."
Aguilar attempted a similar feat last September, but encountered strong currents and suffered Portuguese Man o' War stings forcing her to end the trip.
"This year the gods, the ocean and mother nature were on our side," said Aguilar, who gave much of the credit to her team. "We made it hours before we were even expected. We were planning to be here by 5:00 and it's not even 1:00."
Her latest effort, along with a documentary, will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida, a non-profit that grants wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions.
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