CATALINA ISLAND, Calif. — Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles – Long Beach and Baywatch Avalon are searching for a missing person half of a mile north of Catalina Island today.
Sector Los Angeles – Long Beach received a report from Vessel Assist at 3:29 a.m. that a 12- foot skiff was disabled and adrift with one person, later identified as Lawrence Nash, on board.
After 45 minutes of searching, Vessel Assist could not locate the vessel. Station Los Angeles-Long Beach launched a 41-foot rescue boat, and Air Station Los Angeles dispatched an HH-65C Dolphin helicopter and performed a first-light search. An HC-130 aircraft from Air Station Sacramento, Calif. is also on scene performing searches with the Coast Guard Cutter Halibut, an 87-foot patrol boat out of Marina Del Rey, Calif.
Early this morning, the helicopter from Air Station Los Angeles discovered a debris field about 50 feet in length that consisted of an oil can, water cooler and seat cushions.
If anyone has any information that can help locate the missing boater, Lawrence Nash, they are asked to call the Sector Los Angeles – Long Beach Command Center at 310-521-3801 or by marine VHF radio channel 16.
