MIAMI – Coast Guard crews are searching for a man who was last seen diving in the water in an attempt to rescue friends who were drifting out to sea near Johnson Key, Fla., Monday afternoon.
Missing is Brian Kowalski, 39.
The Coast Guard received a 911 relay of Kowalski’s 10-year old daughter reporting that her father dived in the water to rescue friends and was last seen drifting out to sea. The two people that Kowalski dove in after ended up safely reaching shore, but there was no sign of Kowalski.
The Coast Guard quickly launched two Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater helicopter crews and two Coast Guard Station Marathon smallboat crews who searched throughout the night with no sign of Kowalski.
Currently searching are a Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft and station Marathon is launching another smallboat crew.
The Coast Guard has also requested assistance from a U.S. Navy helicopter crew from Naval Air Station Boca Chica, Fla.
The Coast Guard asks all boaters in the area to stay alert and contact Coast Guard Sector Key West at (305) 292-8727 with any information related to the case.
