HAGATNA, Guam — The Coast Guard suspended their search Friday evening for an individual who was swept off-shore Wednesday afternoon near Tank Beach, Saipan.
Search and rescue coordinators at Coast Guard Sector Guam received a distress call at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday informing them of a 24 year-old male who was swept off shore by a wave.
Search and rescue coordinators contacted Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 to assist. A Navy rescue helicopter reached the search area at 5:30 p.m. and searched until sunset. Air and surface assets searched more than 50 hours.
The Coast Guard Cutter Washington, a 110-foot Coast Guard patrol boat homported in Apra Harbor, Guam, was diverted to the scene and arrived overnight to deploy a Self Locating Datum Marker Buoy that tracks sea conditions to establish a more accurate search area.
The helicopter and Washington conducted a first light search on the Thursday and continued throughout the day. The Washington remained on scene until the search was suspended.
The Coast Guard asks anyone with further information regarding this search to contact the Coast Guard Sector Guam Command Center at 671-564-USCG.
