Crew members from Coast Guard Station Fort Myers Beach, Florida, pull a green kayak aboard their response boat off the coast of Sanibel, Florida, Wednesday, June 22, 2016. The kayak is believed to belong to a missing family who were last seen aboard a sailboat. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
Personal items are grouped aboard a Coast Guard 45-foot Response Boat Medium after they were located within a debris field off the coast of Sanibel, Florida.
A flare was located within a debris field believed to belong to a missing family off the coast of Sanibel, Florida.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Coast Guard recovered a body Wednesday and continues to search east of Sanibel for a family who was reported missing after the family Sunday set sail enroute to Fort Meyers.
Missing are Ace Kimberly, 45, and his three children – Rebecca Kimberly, 17, Donald Kimberly, 15, and Roger Kimberly, 13.
The family was last heard from Sunday afternoon after departing Sarasota enroute to Fort Myers.
At approximately 10 a.m. Wednesday, an HC-130 Hercules rescue aircrew from Air Station Clearwater located a debris field 37 miles west of Sanibel. The debris field contained items such as water jugs, tarps, six life jackets, a throwable life ring, a propane tank, a pair of shoes and a basketball. Surface assets are investigating the debris.
At 12:35 p.m. Wednesday, a crew from Station Fort Myers Beach located a green sit-in kayak in the vicinity of the original debris field matching the description of a kayak known to be with the family. The Coast Guard was able to attribute all of the debris to the ongoing search for the missing sailboat.
At 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, an MH-60 Helicopter crew from Air Station Clearwater located and recovered a body approximately 40 nautical miles west of Sanibel. The body was transferred to local authorities for identification.
“We remain hopeful we'll find survivors,” said Capt. Greg Case, commander of Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. “We continue to keep close contact with the family and keep them updated on all developments during this difficult time."
Crews from the Coast Guard Cutter Alligator, Station Fort Myers Beach and Station Cortez, and helicopter and fix-wing aircrews from Air Station Clearwater, Coast Guard Auxiliary and Customs and Border Protection are searching for the family.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office and Lee County Sheriff’s Office are also aiding in the search.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the Kimberly family is asked to contact the Coast Guard in St. Petersburg at 727-824-7506.
For breaking news, follow us on Twitter @uscgsoutheast.