PASCO COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Two fishermen were thrown off a boat Wednesday and one who is known to have survived shared his testimony with News Channel 8.

Pete Hans of Trinity said he and his friend, Brandon Taylor, had planned a fishing trip to go about 90 to 95 miles offshore to an area called the Middle Grounds but amidst the voyage, chaos ensued.

“We took a wave off the side of the boat, and it just ejected us out of the boat,” Hans said. “We had no lifejackets because we were running, you know, should we have had one? Maybe, but it’s something we do all the time.”

Hans described the hours he spent in the water with Taylor.

“He fought really hard for a long time in the water with me,” he explained.

As time passed Hans noticed he did not see Taylor anymore. He kept on swimming and passed a Double Eagle Charter Fishing boat, whose passengers on the boat later spotted him.

“They had to bring somebody else to get my medical attention from the Coast Guard to be airlifted off their boat and they were on their way back out when they saw me,” Hans said.

Hans told 8 On Your Side he owes his rescue to the Lord and adds he was with him every step of the way.

“I would close my eyes, and he’d be at my nose walking on the water talking to me, whole time,” said Hans. “There was no reason for me to be able to stay afloat for eight hours–keep above water in three, four, five, six seven-foot seas at times.”

Hans told 8 On Your Side the further he swam the more he grew confident he was going to make it out alive.

“I want people to know, you know, the power of God with it. I just really want people to know how powerful he is,” he said.

Hans’ wife, Carolyn, did not know what had happened until she received a phone call from Hans after he had been rescued.

“I am forever blessed and grateful to have him back,” Carolyn Hans said.

Though grateful for Hans’ survival, the couple remains hopeful Taylor will be found. 

“I just hope they find him. I hope people pray for his family,” Pete Hans said. “He’s got two kids, and people need to be praying for his family and for him.”

“We’re still going to believe that he’s out there because we don’t want to face the fact that something could have happened.” Carolyn Hans said. “It happened for me, I mean, it was a miracle that he returned after eight hours. So, we’ll just keep praying.”

The U.S. Coast Guard said crews searched about 4,300 miles by air and sea before suspending the search for Taylor on Thursday.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are now investigating.