Coast Guard suspends search for person in the water

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 08/31/2018 05:29 PM EDT

united states coast guard

News Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 8th District Heartland
Contact: 8th District Public Affairs
Office: (504) 671-2020
After Hours: (618) 225-9008
Eighth District online newsroom

Coast Guard suspends search for person in the water

NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard suspended its search for a person in the water near Donaldsonville, Louisiana, Friday.

The Coast Guard searched approximately 46 square miles for 18 hours for a man who fell off a vessel into the Mississippi River Thursday.

Involved in the search were:

  • A response boat crew from Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Baton Rouge
  • A response boat crew from Coast Guard Station New Orleans
  • An MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans
  • An Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office boatcrew

“The decision to suspend a search is one of the most difficult things we do in the Coast Guard,” said Cmdr. Michael Wolfe, a search and rescue mission coordinator at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans. “We consider many factors when making this decision and it’s never easy. Coast Guard crews diligently searched for over 17 hours but, regrettably, the missing man was unable to be located. Our hearts go out to the friends and family of the missing crewmember.”

-USCG-