MOBILE, Ala. – After a two-day effort, the Coast Guard suspended its active search today at approximately 3 p.m. for Sonphan Souwanham, the 40-year-old man who was reported overdue in the vicinity of Fowl River in Mobile Bay late Monday, Feb. 9, 2009.
Coast Guard crews conducted a 15-hour search covering 91 square miles, an area approximately the size of Puerto Rico, with negative results.
A watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Mobile received a phone call at approximately 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, 2009, from a family friend reporting that Souwanham had not returned home from crab fishing.
Coast Guard crews involved in the search included three HH-65C Dolphin helicopter crews from Air Station New Orleans, a HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from the Aviation Training Center in Mobile, and a 41-foot response boat crew and a 25-foot rescue boat crew from Station Dauphin Island.
The Mobile Sheriff’s Flotilla are currently still on scene.
