Watch: Man clinging to cooler rescued by US coast guard

A man found clinging to a cooler box in the Gulf of Mexico as Hurricane Milton approached Florida was rescued by the US Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard aircrew found the man approximately 48km off the Florida coast on Wednesday.

A a diver was lowered into the water as part of the rescue, and the man was later taken to Tampa General Hospital for medical treatment.

It is believed his boat became disabled and he radioed for help before contact with him was lost.

Hurricane Milton hit Florida's west coast on Wednesday night as a Category 3 hurricane with top sustained winds of 205km/h.