NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard ended its search for the person in the water near Destin, Florida, Tuesday.
The Coast Guard used eight assets in conjunction with local agencies to search approximately 569 square miles over 41 hours.
Coast Guard Sector Mobile watchstanders received a request for assistance at 12:41 p.m. Sunday from Okaloosa County Sheriff’s in the search for a man who entered the water after he and another man were ejected from a 20-foot center console vessel after a reported malfunction. The vessel reportedly continued running in circles and struck the missing individual.
Involved in the response were:
- Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew
- Coast Guard Station Destin 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boatcrew
- Coast Guard Station Destin 29-foot Response Boat-Small boatcrew
- Coast Guard Auxiliary aircrew
- Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
- Florida Wildlife and Fisheries
- Eglin Air Force Base Special Ops Dive Team
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
For questions regarding the missing individual please contact Army Major Beth Riordan, 1st Special Forces Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, at (910) 853-4366.
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