NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard has suspended the search for a missing towboat deckhand near Osceola, Arkansas, Wednesday April 8, 2015.
Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River watchstanders received a report, at 3:53 a.m., Tuesday that a deckhand reportedly fell overboard from the towing vessel Joe Ellis into the Mississippi River at the Mid River Terminal dock around mile marker 782.
Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River responded by deploying two duty marine investigators and a 25-foot Response Boat—Small crew.
Rescue crews that searched:
- Three Mississippi County Sheriffs’ Department boat crews
- Three Blytheville Rescue Squad boat crews
- One Arkansas Fish and Game Officer
- One 25-foot RB—S crew from Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River.
“We offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends,” Capt. Timothy Wendt, commanding officer, Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River. "It’s always difficult to end an active search for individuals in the water, but the Coast Guard is suspending its search pending further developments."