UPDATE: Coast Guard suspends search for overboard cruise ship passenger west of Fort Myers, Fla.

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Southeast Contact: 7th District Public Affairs Office: 305-415-6683 After Hours: 786-367-7649 7th District online newsroom

UPDATE: Coast Guard suspends search for overboard cruise ship passenger west of Fort Myers, Fla.

MIAMI - Coast Guard crews suspended their search for a Carnival Paradise cruise ship passenger at approximately 9 p.m., Wednesday who reportedly went overboard about 85 miles west of Fort Myers.

Missing is Brian Lamonds, 50, of Greensboro, N.C.

Coast Guard watchstanders received a call at approximately 10 a.m., Tuesday via VHF-FM marine band radio from the cruise ship stating the man was missing and reportedly went overboard from the Carnival Paradise.

“I have been in contact with members of Mr. Lamonds’ family throughout our search efforts and know this is a very difficult and painful time for them,” said Cmdr. David Aldous, search and rescue mission coordinator for the Coast Guard 7th District. “Suspending a search is one of the most difficult decisions we have to make as first responders, and it is never made lightly.”

Coast Guard rescue crews were composed of a C-130 Hercules aircraft and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Clearwater, an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft crew from Air Station Miami, and the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Isaac Mayo, homeported in Key West.

Crews searched for approximately 55 hours covering 3,059 square miles.

The cruise ship was transiting from Tampa to Key West when the incident took place.

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-USCG-