PORTSMOUTH, Va. – The U.S. Coast Guard suspended the search for Laura Gainey today at 7:20 p.m.
The U.S. Coast Guard C-130 airplane that searched through the afternoon was released from the search at about 5:30 p.m. The motor vessel Strong Patriot was also released from the search this afternoon.
The motor vessel Hero remained at the scene this evening to recover a life raft dropped by a Coast Guard C-130 on Saturday. After finding no one in the raft, the Coast Guard suspended the active search.
The suspension follows an extensive search by the U.S. and Canadian Coast Guards, volunteer merchant ships and the crew of the Picton Castle.
Computer models estimated Gainey’s likely time of survival at about 36 hours, and searchers covered 3,175 square miles during the three day search.
U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard C-130 aircraft searched for her over specific grid patterns, using night vision, infrared sensors and radar during the operation.CoastGuard, LauraGainey, C-130, CanadianCoastGuard
