FORT PIERCE, Fla. — The Coast Guard is continuing to search for an overdue paddle boarder between Daytona, Florida, to Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
Missing is William Morlock, 58.
Crews aboard an HC-130 Hercules airplane, the Coast Guard Cutter Maria Bray, and the Cutter Diamondback are searching for Morlock. A U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules airplane is scheduled to search throughout the night.
“Our crews continue to aggressively search for Mr. Morlock off the Florida coast,” said Capt. Mark Fedor, chief of response for the 7th Coast Guard district. “We have multiple search and rescue crews scouring the waters in our intense search effort.”
Coast Guard crews have conducted 23 search patterns and covered 10,504 square nautical miles in the search for Morlock.
Morlock’s sister notified watchstanders in the Coast Guard Sector Miami command center of the situation at 9:05 a.m., Sunday. The woman reported that her brother William was last seen Friday evening, at the residence they share, preparing the paddle board for use.
The paddle board was located Saturday six nautical miles east of Normandy Beach, Florida.
Watchstanders launched crews aboard an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Miami, an HC-130 Hercules airplane from Air Station Clearwater, Florida, an HC-144 from Air Station Miami, and a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium from Coast Guard Station Fort Pierce.
Other agencies involved in the search have included the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, and the Port St. Lucie Police Department.
For more information contact the Coast Guard 7th District Public Affairs Office at 786-367-7649.
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