Coast Guard suspends search for missing cruise ship passenger northwest of Berry Islands

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 04/08/2017 06:45 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

News Release  

Apr. 8, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Southeast
Contact: 7th District Public Affairs
Office: (305) 415-6683
After Hours: (786) 367-7649

Coast Guard suspends search for missing cruise ship passenger northwest of Berry Islands

MIAMI – The Coast Guard suspended its search Saturday at 5:57 p.m. for a 32-year-old man who went overboard from the Carnival Liberty cruise ship 10 miles northwest of Berry Islands, Bahamas.

Missing is Reco Scott, 32, of Decatur, Georgia.

Scott reportedly went overboard from the ninth deck of the cruise ship Friday at approximately 5 a.m. The cruise ship launched a search and contacted watch standers at the Seventh Coast Guard District Command Center.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Mr. Scott during this extremely difficult time,” said Christopher Eddy, search and rescue mission coordinator for the Coast Guard Seventh District command center. “Suspending a search is one of the most difficult decisions we have to make and it is made with great care and consideration.”

Crews searched for more than 29 hours covering 1,064 square miles.

A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew deployed to Great Inagua, Bahamas, the Coast Guard Cutter Charles David Jr., Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crews, the Carnival Liberty cruise ship and the Norwegian Jade cruise ship assisted with the search.

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-USCG-