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Coast Guard suspends search for person in the Mississippi River

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NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard suspended its search for a person in the Mississippi River near Fort Jackson,  on Sunday.

“Coast Guard crews from multiple units diligently searched 167 square-nautical miles for approximately 22 hours, but, unfortunately, were unable to locate the individual,” said Cmdr. Michael Wolfe, a search and rescue mission coordinator at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans. “The decision to suspend a search is never easy, and our thoughts are with the friends and family of the missing man.”

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report at 5:41 a.m. Saturday of a boat with three people aboard taking on water near mile marker 20 on the river.

The vessel sank and two of the three people aboard the vessel swam to shore. The missing person is a 27-year-old man who was last seen wearing a camouflage jacket.

Involved in the search were:

  • An MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans.
  • A 45-Foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Venice.
  • Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office
  • Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
  • Coast Guard Cutter Sailfish