Coast Guard Cutter Beluga file photo
HOUSTON — The Coast Guard suspended the search Wednesday evening for Pablo Ayala who reportedly fell overboard approximately 100 miles south of Cameron, Louisiana.
The search began Monday morning when Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received a report from the captain of the fishing vessel Captain Edwin of a crewmember who had fallen overboard off a nearby fishing vessel, the Captain Kent, while it was at anchor. It was reported that the crewmember was not wearing a life jacket.
Coast Guard crews searched 1,754 square-nautical miles over the span of 91 hours.
Involved in the search:
- Coast Guard Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrews
- Coast Guard Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrews
- Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrews
- Coast Guard Cutter Jacob Poroo, a fast response cutter crew from Pascagoula, Mississippi
- Coast Guard Cutter Beluga, an 87-foot patrol boat crew from Galveston, Texas
“Suspending a search is never an easy decision to make,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jarod Toczko, search and rescue mission coordinator. “We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Pablo Ayala.”
The Coast Guard’s search will remain suspended pending the development of new information.
