ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., — The Coast Guard, partner agencies are searching for a missing boater near St. Martins Keys, Florida, Thursday.
Missing is William Durden, 61, from Reno, Nevada.
At 9:20 p.m. Wednesday, watchstanders from Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Florida, received a report from Durden’s wife stating he had left their summer residence on the Homosassa River at 10:30 a.m. aboard a 22-foot boat and had not returned.
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter rescue crew from Air Station Clearwater, Florida, and a 24-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water boatcrew from Station Yankeetown, Florida, was launched to aid in the search.
At 1:10 a.m. Thursday crewmembers from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission located the 22-foot boat in the mangroves near St. Martins Keys.
The Coast Guard asks the public to keep a sharp lookout and contact Coast Guard watchstanders at (727) 824-7506 with any information regarding the whereabouts of Durden.
For breaking news, follow us on Twitter @uscgsoutheast.