Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft file photo
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Coast Guard suspended the search Monday evening for a possible person in the water after locating an overturned life raft near a debris field 68 miles northeast of Brownsville, Texas.
The search began Sunday afternoon when a Coast Guard Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft crew spotted an orange life ring, pink life jacket and a small debris field while on a routine patrol. Approximately three miles away, an overturned life raft was found.
Coast Guard crews searched 2,165 square-nautical miles over the span of approximately 30 hours.
“Suspending a search is never an easy decision to make,” said Cmdr. Charles Hawkins, search and rescue mission coordinator at Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi. “But after an extensive search by our air and boat crews, we have suspended the search pending any additional information.”
Involved in the search were:
- An HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft crew from Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi
- An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi
- A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station South Padre Island
- The Coast Guard Cutter Jacob Poroo
The Coast Guard’s search will remain suspended pending the development of new information.
