Coast Guard locates overdue boaters 7 miles west of Marco Island
The Coast Guard located two boaters Wednesday after they were reported overdue near Estero Bay.
The two men rescued, Joe Nita, 81, and Brian Daugherty, 72, were found 7 miles west of Marco Island by an MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater at approximately 8:40 p.m.
The aircrew vectored a 45-foot-Response Boat-Medium (RBM) boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Ft. Meyers Beach and the Coast Guard Cutter Tarpon, homeported in St. Petersburg, to the scene.
The RBM boatcrew embarked the two men on to the RBM and transported them to Station Ft. Meyers Beach where their family was awaiting.
No injuries or medical concerns reported.
“It’s always a great feeling when you can reunite mariners with their loved ones,” said Lt. Robert List, the command duty officer, in a prepared statement. “I’m extremely proud of our watchstanders who worked diligently to help locate the two men and of course the multiple crews we had searching who were able to execute the mission and make this possible.”
Original post:
Coast Guard, partner agencies searching for overdue boaters near Estero Bay
The Coast Guard, along with partner agencies, are searching Wednesday for two boaters last seen near Estero Bay. Missing at Joe Nita, 72, and Brian Daugherty, 81, last seen in a 22-foot blue and white pontoon boat rented from Snook Bight Marina.
Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received notification from a spouse at 8:30 a.m. today reporting both boaters did not return from a trip Tuesday. Watchstanders launched a 29-foot Response BoatSmall crew from Station Fort Myers Beach and a C-144 search plane crew from Air Station Clearwater at 10 a.m. to begin searching.
Also searching are crews from Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Cape Coral Police, Bonita Springs Police and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders at 727-824-7506.
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Source: U.S. Coast Guard