DATE: October 24, 2004 2:58:52 PM EDT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard Seventh District |
| Press Release |
Date:
Oct. 24, 2004
Contact:
(727) 893-3140/3142 |
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SEARCH FOR MISSING FISHERMAN ENDS TRAGICALLY; COAST GUARD RECOVERS BODY
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Pea Island discovered the body of missing fisherman Jay French, 42, at 12:16 this afternoon, about 23 miles southwest of Clearwater Pass, and only three miles from the location where Rodney Post, 36, was rescued earlier this morning.
The Pea Island crew will be returning to their homeport in St. Petersburg later this afternoon and will turn Mr. French over to the Pinellas County medical examiner. The cause of death is not known at this time.
The Coast Guard began searching for the two fishermen Friday night after Post's brother notified the Coast Guard that the two men were due back home by 5:00 p.m. Friday. Multiple Coast Guard aircraft from Air Station Clearwater, a rescue boat from Coast Guard Station Sand Key, and two Coast Guard cutters were involved in the search at one time or another this weekend.
It is not yet known what exactly happened in this case. The boat the two men were on, a 21-foot pleasure craft named Daddy's Girl was not found during the search.
Editor's Note: Petty Officer Robert Suddarth will be available for interviews at Coast Guard Group St. Petersburg SOUTH MOORINGS between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. today. For directions on how to get to the SOUTH MOORINGS, you can page Petty Officer Suddarth at 727-429-1759.
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The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the
Department of Homeland Security dedicated to protecting the safety and security of America. |
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