Coast Guard rescues missing diver off Florida Gulf Coast

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 08/25/2017 06:24 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

News Release  

August 25, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Tampa Bay
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Tampa Bay
(305) 965-4672

Coast Guard rescues missing diver off Florida Gulf Coast

A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Cortez, Florida, rescues a diver, Patrick L. Morgan, 10 miles west of Blackburn Bay,
A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Cortez, Florida, pull a diver, Patrick L. Morgan, out of the water 10 miles west of Blackburn Bay, Florida, Friday, Aug. 25, 2017. The Coast Guard boatcrew found Morgan clinging to a buoy after he was reported missing by a friend on Morgan's dive boat. (U.S. Coast Guard photo) A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Cortez, Florida, rescues a diver, Patrick L. Morgan, 10 miles west of Blackburn Bay, Florida, Friday, Aug. 25, 2017. The Coast Guard boatcrew found Morgan clinging to a buoy after he was reported missing by a friend on Morgan's dive boat. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

Editor's note: Click on photos for high resolution photos and video.

CORTEZ, Fla. — The Coast Guard rescued a missing diver 10 miles west of Blackburn Bay, Friday. 

Rescued was Patrick L. Morgan, 47, from North Port.

At 2:10 p.m. watchstanders at Coast Guard Station Cortez received a Sarasota County dispatch 911 transfer call from a man aboard an 18-foot boat stating his friend, Morgan, went diving off the boat and had not resurfaced. 

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Clearwater was diverted and a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boatcrew from Station Cortez was launched to commence the search. 

A Sarasota County Fire Rescue crew arrived on scene and transferred the concerned friend off the 18-foot boat to shore due to 5-foot waves and 20-mph winds in the area. 

At 3:48 p.m. the Cortez boatcrew located Morgan clinging to a buoy approximately two miles away from the boat. The boatcrew rescued Morgan from the water, transported him back to his 18-foot boat, and escorted him to Big Sarasota Pass.

There were no reported injuries.

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-USCG-