Coast Guard searches for missing man near Sanibel Island

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 11/25/2019 09:02 AM 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 searches for missing man near Sanibel Island

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Coast Guard is searching for a missing 63-year-old male on the southeast side of Sanibel Island Monday.

Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and HC-130 Hercules aircrews, a Coast Guard Station Ft. Myers 45-foot Response Boat—Medium boatcrew, and the Coast Guard Cutter Pelican crew are searching for Richard Starka of Cleveland.

The Coast Guard crews have covered a search area of 20 square miles and will continue to search throughout the day. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a notification Sunday at 5:28 p.m., of a report of a missing person last seen on a medium sized green float. The watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and a 45-foot RB—M boatcrew.

Lee County, Sanibel Police and Shore Patrol were initially notified and began searching Sunday afternoon. Florida Fish and Wildlife are assisting Monday morning.  

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-USCG-