MIAMI - Coast Guard crews have suspended their search for a man who reportedly went overboard from a cruise ship 22 nautical miles south of Marathon, Florida, Sunday.
Frank Slippo, 43, hometown unknown, reportedly went overboard from the 12th deck balcony of Royal Caribbean International's Liberty of the Seas cruise ship late Sunday night.
Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders were notified by the cruise ship and launched an intense 3-day search for the missing passenger. The search was suspended after more than 57 hours looking for Mr. Slippo.
"Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Mr. Slippo during this very difficult time. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts and an exhaustive search, our crews were unable to locate him," said Capt. Todd Coggeshall, Chief of Response Management for the Coast Guard 7th District.
Coast Guard crews covered a search area of 1,734 square nautical miles.
Coast Guard assets involved in the search included:
- Coast Guard Station Marathon smallboat crews
- Coast Guard Station Islamorada smallboat crews
- Coast Guard Cutter Charles Sexton
- Coast Guard Cutter Crocodile
- Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter crews and HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft crews.
- Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter crews