ST THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands — Coast Guard and partner agencies concluded the search for an overdue fisherman after he was found and rescued by Virgin Islands Police Department marine unit participating in the search, Friday morning.
Rescued is Conrad E. Pondt, 54, resident of the U.S. Virgin Islands, who reportedly was found stranded on Savana Island, an uninhabited ecological sanctuary located three miles off the west end of St. Thomas. Pondt had gone out from Krum Bay on a fishing trip aboard a 12-foot grey and white dinghy Thursday morning; however, he became stranded after the dinghy became disabled.
Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan received a call from VITEMA 911 operations center at 8:41 p.m. Thursday connecting a friend of the fisherman who reported Pondt overdue. The reporting source relayed that Pondt would usually go fishing at Mermaid Chair, Flat Cays, or Frenchman's Bay and that his vehicle and boat trailer were still at a parking lot in Krum Bay.
Following the rescue, Pondt received assistance from responding Emergency Medical Service personnel after he was found to be dehydrated, but otherwise in good health.
“We commend the Virgin Islands Police Department unit on a successful rescue and all partner agencies and rescue organizations for their efforts in the search,” said Capt. Robert E. Stiles, Coast Guard Search and Rescue mission coordinator for in this case. "It was a great outcome! Our Sector Command Center staff did an exceptional job managing this case from the initial report through the rescue. The safe recovery of the survivor is a testament to the strong partnerships, seamless coordination, and resolve of all responding units.
Coast Guard assets, partner agencies and rescue organizations involved in the search completed four air and five surface searches covering approximately 430 square nautical miles:
- MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Borinquen
- Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Doyle
- Boat Forces Unit St. Thomas 33-foot Special Purpose Craft
- Customs and Border Protection Caribbean Air and Marine helicopter and a marine unit
- Civil Air Patrol aircraft
- Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency
- St Thomas Rescue
- Virgin Islands Police Department
Coast Guard Southeast District crews remain ready 24/7 to respond to mariners in distress, working alongside partner agencies to protect lives and ensure the safety of those on the water.
For the latest information on the grounding and response efforts, follow Sector San Juan.
More information about the U.S. Coast Guard can be found at www.uscg.mil. Follow us on X and Instagram, like us on Facebook.