SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Coast Guard rescue crews terminated the search for the three missing fishermen after they were rescued today, approximately 40 nautical miles west of Rincón, Puerto Rico.
Luis Omar Guadalupe, José Cabrera and Edwin GarcÃa, residents of Cabo Rojo, were located by the crew of an HU-25 Falcon Jet from Air Station Miami, at approximately 4:20 p.m. today. The fishermen were reported being adrift aboard their disabled vessel, requesting assistance from the aircrew as they waved their hands over their heads. An HH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Borinquen arrived at the scene at approximately 5:40 p.m. today and hoisted the fishermen to safety.
The U.S. Coast Guard Joint Rescue Sub-Center, San Juan, received an initial report from the father of Guadalupe at 4:30 p.m. yesterday, that his son and two friends had gone fishing from Cabo Rojo to an unknown area in the west coast of Puerto Rico. They were expected to return at approximately 6 a.m. yesterday, but they never arrived.
The rescued men were reported fishing aboard a 17-foot vessel, light brown hull, with three colored lines and the word Covia printed on the side, grey interior, and powered by a single outboard 75-horsepower Yamaha engine. The men were carrying marine safety gear which included a global positioning system device, personal flotation devices, flares, flashlights and food and water for a day.
Since Monday, the Coast Guard launched an HU-25 Falcon Jet from Air Station Miami, Fla., HH-65 Dolphin helicopters from Air Station Borinquen, and diverted Coast Guard Cutter’s Chincoteague and Dauntless to search the area for the missing men.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action F.U.R.A., and the Civil Air Patrol also searched the area with surface and air assets. A total of 11 searches were completed by the federal and state agencies involved in the search, covering an area of approximately 4,015 square nautical miles.
Coast Guard Cutter Chincoteague is a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Coast Guard Cutter Dauntless is 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Galveston, Tx.
