Coast Guard Will Call Off Search for 3 Missing Football Players by Sunset
The Coast Guard will call off its search for three missing football players by sunset Tuesday.
The news came after crews combed choppy waters off the Florida Gulf Coast for a third full day since NFL players Marquis Cooper and Corey Smith and a third friend William Bleakley disappeared. Their fishing boat capsized in stormy seas Saturday evening.
One of the four on the excursion, Nick Schuyler, survived.
Coast Guard Capt. Timothy Close told reporters that the crews were wrapping up their search by the time the sun went down, but commended their efforts.
“It’s a very, very dynamic environment out there on the open sea,” he said.
Earlier Tuesday, searchers apparently found an orange life vest floating in the water. The afternoon discovery came as the father of one of the lost NFL players said the Coast Guard’s hopes of finding the three alive were waning.
I do not understand why the 3 left the boat. Where were they going to go? I’m so sorry they have not been found. My most sincere prayers are with the families. Perhaps there is still hope of them being found? One can only pray this will be so.
2 responses so far ↓
1 Liverdamage // Mar 4, 2009 at 9:25 pm
I don’t know if any details were released specifically if the 3 had drank the water or not.. but drinking saltwater will cause hallucinations and causes death quite quickly.
I heard the survivor say the other three claim to have seen a light in the distance, took off their life preserver and swim off… drinking seawater might explain that.
2 Kate // Mar 4, 2009 at 9:32 pm
According to what the survivor said, 2 just gave up, and the third started swimming.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,504464,00.html
I’m sure there was some saltwater ingestion. Kind of hard to me in the sea without getting in your mouth. And if thirst takes over…. The whole thing is just really sad.
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