HOUSTON — The search for the missing man off Freeport ended Friday morning, after a body matching the description of the missing man was located by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 8 miles west of the Brazos River.
At approximately 9:45 a.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston received a call from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, stating they found a body on the beach matching the description of the 51-year-old man who went missing Thursday evening.
Three men were wade fishing in the Brazos River and were swept out by the rapid currents at about 6 p.m. Two of the men were able to make it to safety and the search began with boats and aircraft for the third man.
"With the recent flooding, we must take precaution when swimming, fishing and doing other water-related recreational activities, especially near rivers or tributaries," said Elvie Damaso, a search and rescue coordinator at Sector Houston-Galveston. "River currents tend to be stronger and much more unforgiving. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the man."
Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi supported the search with a helicopter as Houston based aircrews searched for a missing girl off Galveston Thursday evening. Station Freeport boat crews searched Thursday night and at first light Friday until the body was located. An Air Station Houston helicopter joined the search Friday morning, while another searched for the missing girl off Galveston and Corpus Christi aircrews were busy searching for a 13-year-old boy who had gone missing in the Laguna Madre, south of Corpus Christi.