Coast Guard searching for overdue boater on St. Johns River

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Coast Guard is searching for an overdue boater aboard an 18-foot aluminum bass boat on the St. Johns River Thursday.

Missing is Eddie Harding, 55, of Duval County.

Operational watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville were notified at approximately 7:45 p.m. Thursday that Harding had not returned from fishing at a pre-scheduled time.

A Coast Guard Station Mayport, Fla., 25-foot rescue boat crew, an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter air crew from the Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron and local law enforcement and fire and rescue crews are searching.