KEY WEST, Fla. — The Coast Guard suspended its search Thursday for the missing jet skier Derek King who was reported missing Monday.
Coast Guard Sector Key West search-and-rescue coordinators received a report Monday evening that King stole a jet ski from Island Watersports at the Westin Key West Resort and Marina where he worked as a mechanic. A person on a vessel 10 miles southwest of Key West reported seeing a person on a jet ski matching King’s description shortly thereafter. King was reported to be wearing black clothes, and took a blue colored jet ski. Island Watersports filed a stolen vessel report with the Key West Police.
The Coast Guard searched an area more than 2,200 square miles, roughly the size of Delaware, southwest of Key West between Monday and Thursday.
Units involved with the search include:
* A Station Key West boatcrew
* Three HC-130 Hercules aircrews from Air Station Clearwater, Fla.
* An HU-25 Falcon jet aircrew from Air Station Miami
* An HH-60 Seahawk helicopter aircrew from Naval Air Station Key West
* A Coast Guard Auxiliary aircrew from the Florida Keys
* An HH-65 Dolphin aircrew from Air Station Miami
Anyone with information on Derek King’s whereabouts is requested to call the Coast Guard at 305-295-9700.
