Coast Guard rescues 3, searching for missing boater 70 miles south west of Fort Myers Beach

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Tampa Bay Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Tampa Bay 305-965-4672 PA Detachment Tampa Bay online newsroom

Coast Guard rescues 3, searching for missing boater 70 miles south west of Fort Myers Beach

 

Editors note: Click the thumbnail to download the distress call audio. 

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla.— The Coast Guard is searching for a 63-year-old man in the Gulf of Mexico after a fishing boat sank 70 miles south west of Fort Myers Beach.

Searching for Dennis Grim, 63. 

Rescued were James Beeman, Anthony Bertolino, Darren Whalen. 

At 3:59 a.m. Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a distress call via VHF-FM marine band radio channel 16 from Beeman, the captain aboard the 37-foot commercial fishing boat, J.U.M.A., out of Seminole. Beeman reported the boat was taking on water and he needed emergency assistance. At the same time, Coast Guard Seventh District watchstanders received an emergency position-indicating radio beacon alert correlating to the J.U.M.A.’s position.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Clearwater was launched, arrived on scene and rescued three people clinging to life jackets and debris. The boaters reported the 63-year-old man missing. The helicopter crew transported the three boaters to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers for symptoms of hypothermia. 

An HC-144 Casa fixed-wing aircrew from Air Station Miami, the Coast Guard Cutter Diamondback, a Station Fort Myers Beach 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boatcrew and the Jayhawk helicopter crew are searching for the missing boater.

We ask mariners to keep a sharp lookout, and contact Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg via VHF-FM marine band radio channel 16 or 727-824-7506 with any information regarding the missing boater. 

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-USCG-