Coast Guard recovers boater deceased, continues to search Saint Croix waters for missing other

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Coast Guard rescue crews recovered a boater deceased from the water Tuesday and are searching for one other, in waters south of Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

The three male boaters, originally traveling aboard a 14-foot vessel, reportedly fell into the water at approximately 5 p.m. Monday, when they lost control of their vessel when it went into a spiral.

Coast Guard Watchstanders in Sector San Juan received a call from a 911 Emergency Services operator at 9:12 p.m. Monday, who notified that one of the boaters called in and reported the incident to them after he reportedly swam for two hours before safely reaching shore.

Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, launched a HH-65 Dolphin helicopter, while Coast Guard Boat Forces in Saint Croix launched a 25-foot Response Boat to search for the two remaining boaters.

The crew of a Coast Guard helicopter located the boater's vessel right-side up at approximately 12:15 a.m. Tuesday, in waters approximately 4.5 nautical miles southwest of the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in Saint Croix, however, no signs of the missing boaters were found.

The crew of a Boat Forces Saint Croix response boat located and recovered a boater deceased from the water at 8:30a.m. Tuesday, in waters approximately 2.5 nautical miles southwest of the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in Saint Croix.

Coast Guard rescue crews continue to aggressively search for the remaining boater with surface and air assets alongside Saint Croix’s Blue Lightning Maritime Police.

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