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| MH-60 Jayhawk ©USCG (archive) |
CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Coast Guard rescued a 34-year-old diver and continues to search Wednesday for a man from the same dive 30 miles west of Hudson.
Missing is a 57-year-old diver last seen wearing a black wet suit and silver oxygen tank.
At 4:05 p.m. Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a call via VHF-FM marine band radio channel 16 from the captain of a 25-foot dive boat stating two divers were missing. The captain reported the two men were last seen diving near the RJ Thompson wreck, but failed to resurface near the dive boat.
The Coast Guard Cutter Pelican crew was diverted, and a Station Sand Key 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boatcrew and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew were launched to conduct the search. Pasco County Sheriff's Office aided in the search.
At 8:22 p.m. the Jayhawk crew located the 34-year-old diver 5 miles southeast of the dive site. The crew transported him to Air Station Clearwater, with no reported injuries.
Coast Guard crews, including an Air Station Clearwater HC-130 Hercules airplane crew continue to search for the 57-year-old missing diver.
The Coast Guard asks mariners to keep a sharp lookout and contact Sector St. Petersburg at727-824-7506 with any information.
The Coast Guard Cutter Pelican is an 87-foot Coastal Patrol Boat homeported in St. Petersburg.
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