Coast Guard Searches For Missing Sarasota County Boater

ENGLEWOOD, FL — The U.S. Coast Guard was searching for a missing Sarasota County boater Tuesday. The search was focused on an area 20 miles west of Stump Pass Beach State Park.

Fifty-year-old Todd Battaglino of Venice, Florida was reported missing around 1:20 p.m. by a family member who called 9-1-1 to report Battaglino as overdue.

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"A family member stated Battaglino departed Monday at 5:30 p.m. from the Royal Palm Marina aboard his 18-foot fishing boat and was last seen wearing a yellow fishing shirt and khaki shorts," according to the Coast Guard.

Watchstanders issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast, launched a 45-foot Response Boat boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Cortez, an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Air Station Clearwater and the Coast Guard Cutter Tarpon, an 87-foot Coast Patrol Boat homeported in St. Petersburg.

"The Hercules aircrew spotted Battaglino’s boat 16 miles west of Stump Pass Beach State Park at 6:02 p.m.," the Coast Guard reported. The 45-foot Response Boat crew confirmed that the boat was unmanned and adrift.

"Search crews are saturating a 200-square-mile area 20 miles west of Stump Pass Beach State Park in search of Battaglino," the Coast Guard added.

Assisting in the search are the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as well as marine units from the Venice Police Department.

File image courtesy U.S. Coast Guard