SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Coast Guard rescue crews are searching Tuesday for two missing paddle boarders off the northwest coast of Puerto Rico.
Missing are Sheily Roque, 30, and Michael Vazquez, 25, who were last known to have rented out paddle board equipment and go paddle boarding off Crash Boat Beach in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico Sunday afternoon.
The description of the paddle boards rented out by Roque and Vazquez were reported being a 9-foot and eight inches white and yellow paddle board with the word “nish” written on the board, and the other was described as a 10-foot white and blue paddle board.
Coast Guard Watchstanders in Sector San Juan received a telephone call at 6:50p.m. Monday from Roque’s cousin, who reported the situation and that Roque and Vazquez had not returned.
Coast Guard Watchstanders proceeded to launch a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Borinquen in Aguadilla to the search for the missing paddle boarders and establish coordination with Puerto Rico Emergency Management and Police authorities, who are also responding.
Coast Guard rescue crews are searching the northwest coast of Puerto Rico and Mona Passage to find Roque and Vazquez aboard the following assets:
- Coast Guard Cutter Valiant, a 210-foot Medium Endurance Cutter home ported in Mayport, Fla.
- Coast Guard Cutter Farallon and Coast Guard Cutter Key Largo, 110-foot patrol boats home ported in Puerto Rico
- Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopters from Air Station Borinquen
- Coast Guard Auxiliary fixed-wing aircraft
- Civil Air Patrol fixed-wing aircraft
Anyone who may have information pertaining to the possible whereabouts of the missing paddle boarders are asked to contact the Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Center at 787-289-2041.