ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Coast Guard crews are searching for a 45-year-old male last seen aboard the 42-foot fishing boat, No Bull, 78 miles northwest of Egmont Key, Wednesday.
Missing is Gary Kettlehut.
Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a relayed distress call from 7th Coast Guard District watchstanders at 7:15 a.m., Wednesday, reporting Kettlehut wasn’t aboard the No Bull when the crew awoke at 6 a.m. The crew of the No Bull stopped fishing at midnight Wednesday, and Kettlehut was last seen sleeping at the bow.
Sector watchstanders launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and an HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater. Coast Guard Cutter Hawk, an 87-foot Coastal Patrol Boat homeported in St. Petersburg, was diverted to assist in the search as well.
“At this time, the search area is approximately 100 square miles, starting at the point Kettlehut was last seen,” said Lt. Michael Persun, a search and rescue coordinator at the sector.
Kettlehut was last seen wearing tan shorts with no lifejacket. Anyone with information leading to the whereabouts of Kettlehut is asked to contact Coast Guard watchstanders at 727-824-7506.
