Coast Guard Suspends Search For Missing Man

KEY WEST, FL — The U.S. Coast Guard said on Tuesday it was suspending its search for a 59-year-old man who is believed to have fallen off a boat near Key West. Robert McHabe was lost in the area of Lake Passage on Sunday. The search was called off at 7:42 p.m.

“It is always difficult to suspend a search, but we remain ready to reinstitute the search if new information becomes available,” said Capt. Jeffrey Janszen, Sector Key West commander. “I would like to thank all the Coast Guard units and our partner agencies who assisted in the search for Mr. McCabe, including Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Naval Air Station Key West.”

McHabe, who was last seen wearing gray swim trunks, was reported to have fallen off a 27-foot cabin cruiser west of Key West, according to the Coast Guard.

The distress call was received by Coast Guard Sector Key West Command Center at 6:25 p.m. on Sunday. Officials said that the call was placed by the four people aboard the cabin cruiser.

Crews completed 37 searches covering approximately 2,032 square miles before search was suspended.

Rescue crews participating in the search included:

• A Coast Guard Station Key West 24-foot Special Purpose Craft — Shallow Water boatcrew
• Station Key West 33-foot Special Purpose Craft — Law Enforcement boatcrews
• Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews
• Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew
• An Aids to Navigation Team Key West boatcrew
• A Naval Air Station Key West MH-60 Seahawk helicopter crew
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission boatcrews
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission airplane crew

Photo by Paul Scicchitano