FLORIDA — Coast Guard search-and-rescue crews continue the search for two boys reported overdue after not returning from their fishing trip in the vicinity of Jupiter, Florida, Saturday.
The US Coast Guard has located and confirmed a capsized boat found 67nm off ponce inlet ,Fl, is the boat the two teens were last seen on.
Austin Stephanos, 14, and Perry Cohen, 14, are missing. The pair was last seen in the Jupiter area.
At approximately 5 p.m. Friday, watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Miami received the report that both boys were aboard a 19-foot white single engine center console vessel. They were last seen at approximately 1:30 p.m after purchasing $110 worth of fuel.
National Football League Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath, who is a neighbor of the boys, offered a $100,000 reward to qualified searchers for the boys’ safe return.
The Coast Guard issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and launched an HC-144 “Ocean Sentry” airplane and an MH-65 “Dolphin” helicopter out of Air Station Miami along with boatcrews from Coast Guard Station Lake Worth Inlet and Station Fort Pierce. The Coast Guard Cutters Margaret Norvell and the Paul Clark are also searching with the assistance of the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office. A Coast Guard HC-130 from Air Station Clearwater is also assisting with the search.
The Coast Guard intends to search throughout the day for the missing teens. Rescue crews have covered more than 5,300 square nautical miles and are currently searching off the coast of Melbourne, Florida.
The search is still on going. If you have any information for the whereabouts of these teenagers, please call Tequesta Police at (561)768-0500.
USCG search and rescue has covered 14,447 square nautical miles in the search of the two missing boys. Today’s search will bring the searched area to 24,453 square nautical miles.
CG Cutters SAWFISH and PAUL CLARK are currently on scene searching and they’re working with Customs and Border Protection who are utilizing fixed wing aircraft to fly search boxes from Bahamas to Jacksonville, FL. All other USCG small boat stations are conducting their own searches within their area of responsibility.
The current crews and stations assisting with the search are:
Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter
Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry Aircraft
Air Station Clearwater HC-130 Aircraft
Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Helicopter
Coast Guard Cutter Paul Clark
Coast Guard Cutter Sawfish
Coast Guard Station Ft Pierce
Coast Guard Station Lake Worth Inlet
Coast Guard Station Ft Lauderdale
Customs and Border Protection maritime patrol aircraft
Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office
Florida Fish & Wildlife
We will provide updates as we get them.
