MIAMI — The Coast Guard has suspended the search for a person who was last seen aboard an inflatable raft off of Hallandale Beach, Florida, Monday.
The search for the missing man was suspended at 4 p.m. Tuesday following a two-day search off the coast of Hallandale Beach.
At approximately 12 p.m., Monday, Coast Guard Sector Miami watchstanders received initial notification from a Hallandale Beach lifeguard stating that he witnessed a male with no lifejacket go out to sea aboard an inflatable raft and later saw the raft adrift with nobody aboard. The Coast Guard diverted multiple assets to begin searching for the possible missing man.
A Coast Guard Station Ft. Lauderdale Response Boat—Medium crew arrived on scene and assisted Hallandale Ocean Rescue, searching up to two miles from the shore. A Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter crew arrived on scene and searched alongside a Broward County Sheriff’s Office helicopter crew.
"Search and rescue crews worked tirelessly in their search for the missing person,"said Capt. Todd M. Coggeshall, chief of response management for the Coast Guard 7th District in Miami. "Despite our best efforts we have been unable to locate him, and have made the difficult decision to suspend the search pending any further developments."
Rescue crews involved in search covered more than 155 square nautical miles, during 8 search patterns. Search and rescue crews included personnel from:
- The Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell is a 154-foot Fast Response Cutter, homeported in Miami.
- Coast Guard Station Fort Lauderdale crewmembers
- Coast Guard Air Station Miami helicopter crew
- Broward County Sherriff’s office crewmembers
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