LONGBOAT KEY, Fla.- The Coast Guard suspended its search Friday at approximately 9:45 p.m. for Michael Taylor, 20, who went overboard from a boat Thursday, approximately 10 miles west of Longboat Key.
Crews from the Coast Guard, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and local emergency responders searched more than 320 square miles for Taylor.
Searching for Taylor were:
- Coast Guard Station Cortez, Fla., 25-foot and 41-foot rescue boat crews
- Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla., MH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter crews
- Coast Guard Auxiliary Cessna aircraft crew
- FWC search-and-rescue boat crews
- FWC aircraft crew
- Longboat Key Fire and Rescue crews
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Taylor’s family and friends,” said Capt. Timothy M. Close, Commander of Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg received a call from the 40-foot fishing vessel Cindy Lee at about 7:25 p.m. Thursday, reporting that Taylor went overboard from the boat and had not re-surfaced.
FWC is investigating the incident.
