PHOTO RELEASE: Coast Guard crews are searching for 2 overdue boaters off Rio Grande, Puerto Rico

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Contact: Coast Guard Puerto Rico PA Office Office: 787-729-2381 After Hours: 787-510-7923 7th District Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands online newsroom

Coast Guard crews are searching for 2 overdue boaters off Rio Grande, Puerto Rico
2 other overdue boaters in this case are safely ashore

 
Coast Guard rescue crews are searching Oct. 19, 2018 for the third day for two overdue boaters, Juan Carlos Olivos Castro, 20, left photo, and Erik Joel Lugo Sherrills, 18, right photo.  Two other persons in this case reported swimming to shore Thursday after their boat sank in waters off Rio Grande, Puerto Rico forcing all four boaters into the water. 

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Coast Guard rescue crews continue to search for the third day Friday for two of four overdue male boaters in waters north of Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.

Two persons in this case are reported to be safely ashore, while two others, Juan Carlos Olivos Castro, 20, and Erik Joel Lugo Sherrills,18, from Puerto Rico remain missing.

Coast Guard Watchstanders in Sector San Juan were able to contact a surviving boater Friday morning, who communicated that he and one other person were able to swim to shore Thursday, after their vessel partially sank, approximately six miles off the coast of Rio Grande, Puerto Rico forcing all four of them into the water.  The survivor also reported that the two men who remain missing were wearing lifejackets.

Coast Guard watchstanders were initially contacted at 5p.m. Wednesday by Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid personnel in Fajardo, who relayed a report from a pwho notified that his friend was aboard a 16-foot boat taking on water in the vicinity of Cayo Botella near Culebra, Puerto Rico.

Coast Guard watchstanders proceeded to launch two MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Borinquen to search for the distressed vessel.

Since the search began Wednesday, Coast Guard rescue crews searching aboard rotary and fixed wing aircraft, small boats and cutters have found no signs of a distress or additional survivors.

Anyone who may have information on this case or the potential whereabouts of the missing boaters is asked to contact the Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Center at 787-289-2041.

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-USCG-