Coast Guard suspends search for person in the water

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 04/21/2019 02:57 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 Panama City Beach, Florida, Sunday.

The Coast Guard and partner agencies searched approximately 1,281 square-nautical miles for over 27 hours but were unable to locate the missing man.

“The Coast Guard searched diligently with our partner agencies to locate the missing man,” said Cmdr. Matthew Derrenbacher, a search and rescue mission coordinator at Coast Guard Sector Mobile. “We saturated the search area with assets and personnel but, unfortunately, were unable to locate him. The decision to suspend a search is never easy and our thoughts go out to the family and friends of the missing man during this difficult time.”

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Mobile received a report at approximately 7:17 p.m. Friday of a person in the water at Panama City Beach struggling to return to shore.

The missing person was described as a 20-year-old white male with long black hair wearing black shorts.

Involved in the search were: 

  • A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Panama City.
  • An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans.
  • The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Marlin.
  • An HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew from Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile.
  • Panama City Police Department.
  • Shore units and two helicopter crews from Bay County Sheriff's Office.

-USCG-