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Press Release | Sept. 13, 2024

Coast Guard suspends search for missing man 28 miles off Englewood

Public Affairs Detachment Tampa Bay - 305-965-4672

Editor's note: All Coast Guard Southeast imagery can be found on DVIDS, here.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Coast Guard suspended the search for a missing man aboard a 37-foot vessel off the coast of Englewood, Thursday, at 10 p.m., pending new information.

Missing is 70-year-old Bert Erwin.

A good Samaritan contacted Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders, Wednesday, at 10:30 a.m., reporting the man was overdue after departing Rose Marina, Monday, to reach his final destination, Indian Rocks Beach. 

The 37-foot vessel was found with no one aboard 28 miles off the coast of Englewood and anchored by Station Cortez crews.

Rescue crews searched 8,462 square miles, an area almost the size of the state of New Jersey. On-scene weather conditions during the search were 10-knot winds and 3-foot seas.

"We offer our deepest condolences to Mr. Erwin’s loved ones,” said Lt. Andrew Grady, search and rescue mission coordinator at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. "One of the hardest decisions to make during a search is a suspension.” 

Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and launched rescue crews from Stations Cortez, St. Petersburg, Sand Key and Fort Myers Beach; alongside rescue crews from Air Stations Miami and Clearwater and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, to conduct searches.

If you have any information on the missing man's whereabouts, please contact the Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg command center at 866-881-1392.

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-USCG-