DATE: May 14, 2009 9:20:26 PM EDT

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News Release

Date:
May 14, 2009

Contact:
Petty Officer Nick Ameen
305-415-6683
Coast Guard suspends search for possible missing people off Boynton Beach

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MIAMI -- The Coast Guard suspended its search Thursday evening for possible missing people in the water off Boynton Beach, Fla., from a vessel that reportedly capsized and sank around 2 a.m. Wednesday.

The Coast Guard, along with good Samaritans, rescued 16 people and recovered nine deceased individuals including one infant female. A good Samaritan contacted the Coast Guard around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday reporting numerous people in the water.

"Our thoughts are with each of the lost, the survivors and their loves ones," said Rear Adm. Steve Branham, Seventh Coast Guard District commander.  "The Coast Guard and our local, state and federal partners remain committed to protecting life at sea and our nation's maritime borders.  We will continue to aggressively patrol for migrants at sea and rescue them when they are in peril."

The Coast Guard and partner agencies searched a combined area of more than 8,800 square miles for about 31 hours by sea and air looking for survivors from the capsized vessel. The search area spanned from Boynton Beach to about 28 miles southeast of Port Canaveral, Fla.

Coast Guard assets searching were:

  • Six HH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews from Coast Guard Air Station Miami
  • Two HU-25 Falcon jet crews from Air Station Miami
  • Two C-130 fixed-wing aircraft crews from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla.
  • The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Cormorant, an 87-foot patrol boat homeported in Fort Pierce, Fla.
  • The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Drummond, a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in Miami
  • The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Shrike, an 87-foot patrol boat homeported in Port Canaveral
  • Two 33-foot Special-Purpose Craft crews from Coast Guard Station Lake Worth Inlet, Fla.
  • A 41-foot Utility Boat crew from Station Lake Worth Inlet
  • A 25-foot Response Boat-Small crew from Station Lake Worth Inlet

Also assisting in the search was:

  • A C-130 fixed-wing aircraft crew from Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
  • Customs and Border Protection
  • Immigrations and Customs Enforcement
  • Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office
  • Boynton Beach Police Department
  • Lake Worth Police Department

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