ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Coast Guard has suspended the search for a missing 78-year-old man near Anclote Key, Florida, Wednesday.
Arthur Dennis Velasco, 78, from Treasure Island, Florida, went missing Sunday morning after falling off a 32-foot sail boat.
The Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and civilians searched more than 2,878 square nautical miles over 76 hours.
“Throughout this case, the family and friends of Dennis have been an exceptional source of information and cooperation, our deepest condolences goes out to all of them," said Capt. Gregory Case, Commander Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. "Suspending a search and rescue case is one of the hardest decisions to make in the Coast Guard. The decision to suspend is not taken lightly and is based on a multitude of factors from the case."
In this case, search efforts were suspended for a short period during Tropical Storm Colin, but resumed immediately following the storm's passage.
The Coast Guard requests anyone having information that may be helpful in this case to contact the Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg command center at (727) 824-7506.
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