Coast Guard suspends search for 2 missing boaters in Florida

MIAMI — The Coast Guard suspended the search for the two missing boaters in Florida at sunset Wednesday, who have been missing since February 19, after they were reported overdue.

Missing are Gerald Cook, 81, Peter Cook, 55, and four of their dogs.

Coast Guard assets and other agencies who responded included:

Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater HC-130 Hercules, MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter
Coast Guard Aviation Training Center (ATC) Mobile MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, HC-144 Ocean Sentry
Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City HC-130J Super Hercules
Air Station Miami HC-144A Ocean Sentry
Coast Guard Cutter Cutter Brant (WPB-87348)
Coast Guard Cutter Charles Sexton (WPC-1108)
Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane (WMEC-903)
Coast Guard Cutter Kathleen Moore (WPC-1109)
Coast Guard Cutter Albacore (WPB-87309)
U.S. Air Force E-9A Widget
Civil Air Patrol
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Coast Guard suspends search for 2 missing boaters in Florida. HC-130 Hercules from Air Station Clearwater. — Archive image: a Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircraft from Air Station Clearwater is parked on the tarmac in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
U.S. Coast Guard photo illustration by Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Colon.

“Suspending a search without a positive outcome is a very difficult decision,» said Capt. Eric Smith, search and rescue mission coordinator on the case. «Despite our best efforts, we were unable to locate the vessel and our condolences go out to the families and friends of Gerald and Peter who remain missing.”

Since the search began on Wednesday, Coast Guard air and surface units conducted over 56 searches covering more than 109,319 square nautical miles.

Coast Guard suspends search for 2 missing boaters in Florida. MH-60 Jayhawk Aviation Training Center Mobile. ATC Mobile. — Archive image: the crew of a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile (ATC Mobile) hoists Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Foss and Luke Wiedeman as part of a search-and-rescue demonstration.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Stephen Lehmann.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Miami received the initial call from family stating a father and son were traveling from Panama City to Vero Beach, Florida by the Okeechobee Waterway and were scheduled to arrive Tuesday.

Anyone with information on this case can contact Coast Guard District 7 Command Center at 305-415-6800.

Coast Guard suspends search for 2 missing boaters in Florida. HC-144 Ocean Sentry Aviation Training Center Mobile. ATC Mobile. — Archive image: Lt. Steve Pittman (left) and Lt. Derrick Hendrickson, HC-144 Ocean Sentry pilots from Aviation Training Center Mobile, Ala., fly toward Haiti.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nick Ameen.

For more breaking news follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

-USCG-