EGMONT, Fla. — Coast Guard crewmembers suspended their search Tuesday at 8:42 p.m., for a 52-year-old man after his 14-foot boat was found adrift west of here, between Egmont buoys nine and 10.
Missing is Patrick Mullins.
The Coast Guard searched approximately 66 hours, covering approximately 2,225 square miles.
A member of the Tampa Bay Pilots Association contacted Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector St. Petersburg at approximately 10 a.m., Monday reporting the adrift boat. After further research, watchstanders were able to determine the boat belonged to Mullins who was reported overdue by his family members.
Multiple crews from Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg, Coast Guard Station Cortez, an HC-130 Hercules aircrew, and multiple MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Marlin, crews from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Manatee County Sherriff's Office, Long Beach Police Department, Long Boat Holmes Beach Police Department, Bradenton Police Department and Eckerd College Search and Rescue were involved in the search.
The incident is under investigation.