GALVESTON, Texas – The Coast Guard suspended its search at 3:24 p.m. today for the man who went missing while swimming off the beach in Galveston March 24, 2009.
The initial report, taken by the Galveston Beach Patrol, was that a man, a female and a child had swum too far out and had to struggle to make it back to shore. The woman and the child were able to make it back to the beach safely but they lost sight of the man.
Search and rescue crews battled rough seas and bad weather for more than 73 total crew-hours as they tried to locate the missing swimmer.
A 448 square-nautical-mile search area was covered by:
- An MH65-C rescue helicopter and crew from Air Station Houston
- A 47-foot motor-life-boat and crew from Station Galveston
- The Coast Guard Cutter Manta, an 87-foot patrol boat from Freeport
- Officers of the Galveston Beach Patrol
