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| Desperate Search Continues for Sailboat With Missing Family of Four Off U.S. Gulf Coast | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: 23 Jun 2016, 10:25 PM (14 Views) | |
| skibboy | 23 Jun 2016, 10:25 PM Post #1 |
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Desperate Search Continues for Sailboat With Missing Family of Four Off U.S. Gulf Coast June 23, 2016 by Mike Schuler ![]() A green kayak believed to belong to a missing family who were last seen aboard a sailboat is pulled on board a Coast Guard response boat off Sanibel, Florida, June 22, 2016. U.S. Coast Guard photos Update (5:00 p.m. EDT) – The U.S. Coast Guard has confirmed that a second body was recovered Thursday as crews continue to search east of Boca Grande for a family who was reported missing setting sail en route to Fort Meyers on Sunday. The Coast Guard said that the second body was recovered about 4 miles southeast of location of first body. ![]() A photo released by the Coast Guard shows the family four on board their 29-foot sailboat on Saturday, June 18, 2016 Earlier – The U.S. Coast Guard is continuing its search for a sailboat with a father and his three teenage children off Florida’s Gulf Coast after finding debris believed to be from the family and spotting a possible flare during the search. A body has also been recovered and has been transferred to local authorities for identification. Missing are Ace Kimberly, 45, and his three children – Rebecca Kimberly, 17, Donald Kimberly, 15, and Roger Kimberly, 13. A family member confirmed Thursday that the body recovered is that of the missing girl. The family departed Sarasota, Florida aboard their 29-foot sailboat Sunday morning en route to Fort Myers. They were last heard from Sunday afternoon when the man called his brother saying the sailboat was in 6-foot seas and he was attempting to survive with his children offshore of Englewood. On Wednesday, an aircrew from Clearwater located a debris field 37 miles west of Sanibel, Florida. The debris included water jugs, tarps, six life jackets, a throwable life ring, a propane tank, shoes, and a basketball. Two kayaks have since been located matching the description of the kayaks known to be with the family. ![]() ![]() On Wednesday afternoon a MH-60 helicopter crew located and recovered a body approximately 40 nautical miles west of Sanibel. The body has been transferred to local authorities for identification. A glimmer of hope came early Thursday when a 45-foot response boat witnessed a flare while conducting the search at about 2:30 a.m., according to the Coast Guard. “We remain hopeful we’ll find survivors,” said Capt. Greg Case, commander of Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. “We continue to keep close contact with the family and keep them updated on all developments during this difficult time.” Continuing with the search Thursday are crews from the Coast Guard Cutter Alligator, Station Fort Myers Beach and Station Cortez, helicopter and fix-wing aircrews from Air Station Clearwater, Coast Guard Auxiliary and Customs and Border Protection are searching for the family. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Air Force are also aiding in the search. Source: gCaptain
Edited by skibboy, 23 Jun 2016, 10:28 PM.
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| skibboy | 26 Jun 2016, 10:33 PM Post #2 |
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U.S. Coast Guard Suspends Search for Florida Family 2016-06-25 The U.S. Coast Guard on Saturday said it had suspended its search for a family whose sailboat disappeared off the Florida coast six days ago. The Coast Guard also confirmed that two bodies recovered on Wednesday and Thursday belonged to Ace Kimberly, 45, and his 17-year-old daughter, Rebecca. Kimberly's two sons, aged 13 and 15, remain missing. Calling it a "very difficult decision," Captain Gregory Case said he had informed friends and relatives of the Kimberly family that the Coast Guard would cease search operations. The family was last seen on Sunday when they set sail for Fort Myers from Sarasota, Florida, in a 29-foot (nine-meter) sailboat. The vessel encountered six-foot (1.8 meter) seas on Sunday during a storm near Englewood, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Sarasota, according to authorities. The Coast Guard began search and rescue operations on Tuesday which included an H-130 Hercules H-130 plane, an MH-60 helicopter as well as several vessels. The state's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will take possession of the evidence gathered by searchers, including a number of personal effects from the boat, in an effort to determine what happened. No distress call was received presumably because the boat did not have a radio. "There may be some questions that we will never have the answers to," said Major Roger Young of the commission. "But the point of the investigation is to try to get to the bottom of what happened." The Coast Guard has said the family had lived on the vessel for about a year. They were traveling to Fort Myers for repairs to the boat, which was in poor condition. In addition to the Coast Guard, the search involved several other federal, state and local emergency responders. The effort covered more than 34,000 square nautical miles, Case said. Source:
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gCaptain



3:54 PM Jul 11