A 12-year-old autistic boy and his 46-year-old father survived more than 10 hours in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, eight miles off the coast of Volusia County.

The boy and his father went swimming Saturday night when they were caught in an outgoing current and swept out to sea, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. “(We were) floating,” the man said. “We were floating and just waiting for help to come.” Walter Marino said he used a lighthouse to remain floating to area so that the searchers could see him.

After the two went missing at about 7:30 p.m. Saturday, the Coast Guard launched an extensive search, which included water scooters and helicopters. After 15 hours of searching, a boater spotted Walter Marino about eight miles east of the inlet. A Coast Guard rescue helicopter from Air Station Clearwater located and rescued his son about two hours later. The helicopter spotted the boy treading water about a mile north off the place where his father was found. The pair was then taken to Halifax Health Medical Center, where the boy was listed in good condition. Both were treated for dehydration. Marino was treated and released.

“God bless the Coast Guard,” Walter Marino said on his way to the hospital. Later on, as he left Halifax Medical Center, he thanked everyone who helped him and his son.

A veteran with the Volusia County Beach Patrol called the rescue mission “a miracle.” “It was a modern-day miracle,” he said.