Coast Guard, partner agencies searching for overdue boaters near Estero Bay

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 03/06/2019 03:45 PM EST

united states coast guard 

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, partner agencies searching for overdue boaters near Estero Bay

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FT. MYERS, Fla --The Coast Guard, along with partner agencies, are searching Wednesday for two boaters last seen near Estero Bay.

Missing at Joe Nita, 81, and Brian Daugherty, 72, last seen in a 22-ft blue and white pontoon boat rented from Snook Bight Marina.

Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received notification from a spouse at 8:30 a.m. reporting both boaters did not return from a trip Tuesday. Watchstanders launched a 29-ft Response Boat–Small crew from Station Ft. Myers Beach and a C-144 search plane crew from Air Station Clearwater at 10 a.m. to begin searching.

Also searching are crews from Lee County Sheriff's Office, Cape Coral Police, Bonita Springs Police, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders at 727-824-7506.

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-USCG-