CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Two men in a disabled boat were found this afternoon following an extensive search of the Baffin Bay area, approximately 15 miles south of Corpus Christi.
The men were located just after noon today by a Coast Guard helicopter crew along with another disabled boat crew that had tried to assist. That boat had become disabled while towing the first boat. The crew of the second boat then called Towboat US to tow them in. Both boats were towed in without incident.
Micah Atherton, of Houston, and a friend were fishing yesterday when they began to have engine trouble. They called Micah’s father, Mike, also from Houston, and told him they were on the shoreline in Baffin Bay near the King Ranch. He then called the Coast Guard to request assistance for his son.
A Coast Guard helicopter crew and rescue boat crew were sent out last night at approximately 8:30 p.m. and searched for over two hours but were not able to locate Mr. Atherton’s 19-foot fishing boat.
The search resumed this morning with another Coast Guard helicopter crew and a rescue boat crew from Station Port Aransas along with help from other agencies including Texas Parks and Wildlife, Padre Island National Seashore, and Kleberg County Police Department. Helicopter and boat crews searched through the morning.
At noon, the vessel Chase reported to the Coast Guard that they thought they had located the disabled crew and another small fishing boat trying to assist. The helicopter crew confirmed the position of the disabled boats and a Coast Guard rescue boat crew was sent to the scene until Towboat US arrived.
No injuries were reported.
