Search for missing diver called off (Florida)
The Coast Guard on Sunday called off its search for a missing diver from New Smyrna Beach after officials said they were doubtful he’s still alive.
Robert Martin, 45, of New Smyrna Beach waved for help about 11 a.m. Saturday before sinking into the Atlantic Ocean about 22 miles east of Ponce de Leon Inlet, said Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer 1st Class Donnie Brzuska.
“We’ve saturated the area with assets (search vessels and aircraft) and we are confident that if we were going to find anybody alive in this case, that we would have found them by now,” Brzuska said shortly after the search was suspended.
The search, which lasted more than 30 hours and covered 240 square miles, ended at 7 p.m. Sunday, he said. The Coast Guard used two rescue boats from Coast Guard Station Ponce Inlet, a helicopter from Air Station Clearwater, the cutter “Shrike” from Port Canaveral and two helicopters from Patrick Air Force Base in Port Canaveral to search the area Saturday and Sunday. Several private boaters assisted, Brzuska said.
By Derek L. Kinner (Staff Writer)
Source: News Journal Online
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