Search suspended for missing Connecticut boater

DATE: July 20, 2009 12:23:20 PM EDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Public Affairs Detachment New York
U.S. Coast Guard

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Date: July 20, 2009 Public Affairs (212) 668-7114

News Release

Search suspended for missing Connecticut boater

NEW YORK – The search for a missing boater whose vessel was found two miles south of Charles Island near Milford, Conn., around 4:20 p.m. Saturday has been suspended as of 9 a.m. today, pending further developments.

“It is always a very difficult decision to call off a search because it certainly affects everyone involved, especially the family. The effort put in to trying to locate Mr. Callan was immense,” said Capt. Daniel Ronan, Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound’s commanding officer. “We extend our deepest condolences to the family as they work their way through this tragedy.”

First response agencies conducted 22 searches spanning a total of 2,400 square miles, roughly the size of the state of Delaware.

Raymond Callan, 57, of Fairfield, Conn., was reported to be missing after his boat was found under power without anyone onboard and doing circles by the crew of the vessel Carpe Diem, who contacted the Coast Guard.

A rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station Eaton’s Neck searched the area near where the vessel was located overnight. A Coast Guard Falcon jet crew also conducted a first light search at approximately 5 a.m. without any results.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Sailfish, homeported in Sandy Hook, N.J., a rescue helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, a Falcon jet crew from Air Station Cape Cod, a 41-foot rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station New Haven and a Coast Guard auxiliary boat crew also searched the area during the weekend.

Rescue crews from the Milford Fire Department are conducting a final search and plan to suspend pending further developments.

The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, West Haven Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Milford Police Department also assisted in the search.

Weather on scene was reported as 10 mile-per-hour winds and two-foot seas at the time of the incident.

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