PONCE DE LEON INLET, Fla. — Coast Guard and Navy crews are searching for a possible mariner in distress Thursday approximately 20 miles east of Ponce de Leon Inlet, Florida.
Watchstanders in the Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville command center were notified of the situation after hearing a “Mayday” call over VHF Channel 16 at approximately 5:26 p.m. Watchstanders made attempts to communicate with the caller with no response. No further mayday calls have been received.
The Coast Guard was able to pinpoint the area from where the call came by using two radio towers located in Deltona and St. Cloud. Based on that data, the search area was created. An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast was made, notifying mariners in the area of the possible distress situation.
A Navy airplane crew in the area reported hearing the call as well and has begun to search for any vessels in distress.
A boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Ponce de Leon Inlet was launched to the search area at approximately 6 p.m.