MIAMI — The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for four boaters Wednesday near Key West after the boaters failed to return home from a snorkeling trip approximately six miles north of Key West.
Missing are David Thompson, 48, Adam Kelley, 28, Joshua Thompson, 15, and Evan Thompson, 11.
The four boaters left Banana Bay Resort Tuesday in a 25-foot Grady White to snorkel north of Key West and were scheduled to return before 4 p.m. A concerned family member contacted watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Key West at about 6:30 p.m. to report them overdue after they failed to return.
Two boat crews from Coast Guard Station Key West, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and an HC-144 Ocean Sentry helicopter crew from Air Station Miami, and boat crews from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission initiated search efforts Tuesday.
Searching Wednesday are:
- An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Miami
- An HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew from Air Station Miami
- An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Clearwater
Boaters are encouraged to remain vigilant while in the area and to render aid and assistance if necessary. Anyone with information on the location of the missing boaters is encouraged to contact the U.S. Coast Guard at 305-415-6800.
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