UPDATE 5:39 P.M. FORT MYERS, Fla. (WWSB) – The U.S. Coast Guard said its suspending its active search for two missing boaters off Fort Myers at sunset Monday after covering more than 4,500 square nautical miles over 81 hours.
Captain Corrie Sergent, Sector Commander at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, told ABC7 the search for Mr. Spivey and Mr. Bill Lauren will end at 7:40 p.m. Monday.
Captain Corey Sergeant, Sector Commander at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, said the search for Mr. Spivey and Mr. Bill Lauren ended at 7:40 p.m. Monday.(WWSB)
“We have searched a huge, massive area with so many resources that if these two gentlemen were alive on the surface of the water, we are confident we would have found them by now,” Sergeant said.
The search involved Coast Guard assets by air and sea, along with support from the Air Force, Florida State Guard, Collier County and Lee County Sheriff’s offices, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Volunteers also participated in the search.
ORIGINAL COVERAGE | The U.S. Coast Guard searching for Two missing boaters
Sergeant said it was 81 hours since officials believe the men entered the water Friday afternoon.
The Coast Guard found the men’s boat around midnight Friday night, approximately 70 miles offshore. The vessel was still moving at about 4.5 knots with engines engaged when discovered.
A Coast Guard swimmer lowered to the boat disengaged the engines and deployed an anchor for safety. The boat had taken a right turn at some point Friday afternoon, according to tracking data.
Fishing poles were in holders on the boat, but no fishing lines were in the water when the vessel was found.
Sergeant said officials do not know what caused the men to enter the water and cannot speculate on the circumstances.
Search conditions were described as optimal for most of the operation. Friday through Sunday featured 2-3 foot seas and 10-15 knot winds with sunshine and warm air temperatures.
Monday brought rougher conditions that made searching more difficult, but crews continued operations until sunset.
The Coast Guard met with the families Monday evening to explain the decision to suspend the search. Sergeant said the families understand the decision and are grateful for the search efforts.
The search can be reopened if new information becomes available.
FULL INTERVIEW with Captain Corrie Sergent, Sector Commander at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg below:
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FORT MYERS, Fla. (WWSB) – The U.S. Coast Guard continued search and rescue operations Sunday night for two boaters missing off the Fort Myers coast.
Randall Spivey, 57, and Brandon Billmaier, 33, left early Friday morning from a residence on the 15000 block of Intracoastal Court in Fort Myers for a fishing trip, authorities said. The men were traveling in a 42-foot Freeman boat and did not return as expected.
Coast Guard crews in St. Petersburg conducted air and sea searches through Sunday night.
Officials warned that uncoordinated search efforts by private boaters can create unsafe conditions and hinder the response. The Coast Guard urged mariners to monitor Channel 16 and report any information to Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg at 866-881-1392, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 239-477-1000, or 911.
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