EDGEWATER, Fla. — The Coast Guard suspended its search for a possible person in the water, Tuesday, at approximately 6:15 p.m., pending any new developments.
Coast Guard crews covered nearly 22 square miles over a period of four and a half hours since beginning their search in the Intracoastal Waterway, Tuesday afternoon. There have been no sightings of anyone in distress, and the Coast Guard hasn’t received any reports of missing or overdue persons in the area.
"This case has been classified as an unconfirmed person in the water," said Chief Petty Officer Randy Corbett, a command duty officer at Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville. "The items found inside the kayak indicated possible recent use, which is why we worked closely with our partner agencies to investigate the matter. The Coast Guard takes all reports of distress, or possible distress, seriously. Although this case has been suspended pending any new developments, we have the capability of re-launching our personnel if we receive any credible information relating to this search."
A good Samaritan initially notified watchstanders in the Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville command center of a red 15-foot kayak drifting in the ICW, at approximately 12:35 p.m. The report stated the kayak had personal equipment inside including a pair of shoes, a bait bucket, cigarette butts, and a water cooler.
The Coast Guard launched crews aboard a 24-foot small boat from Coast Guard Station Ponce de Leon Inlet and a crew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater to search.
Other agencies involved in the search included crews from Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
To view the initial press release for this case, visit: http://d7.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/2818858/.
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