Family describes being lost at sea during fishing trip off Key West
KEY WEST, Fla. – David Thompson described the moment a Coast Guard plane spotted him and his family onboard a boat Wednesday, more than a day after the group was lost at sea. Thompson was reported missing Wednesday by a relative after he, his son-in-law, Adam Kelley, 28, his son, Joshua Thompson, 15, and his nephew, Evan Thompson, 11, failed to return from a snorkeling trip off Key West. After a massive search by air by sea, the family was found 44 nautical miles off the coast of Key West. The family arrived to the Key West Coast Guard base about 9 p.m. Wednesday night, and were greeted with hugs from their loved ones. The family from Central Florida will finish their vacation in the Florida Keys until early next week, but plan to stay out of the water.
Family reported missing after snorkeling trip found by Coast Guard near Key West
KEY WEST, Fla. – The U.S. Coast Guard found four boaters Wednesday, a day after they were reported missing after leaving on a snorkeling trip off Key West. "It was sheer relief watching 11 and 15-year-old boys come off and hug their moms," U.S. Coast Guard Key West Commander Clint Prindle said. They and other family members came to Key West to take part in lobster mini-season on Tuesday. A concerned family member contacted watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Key West at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to report them overdue after they failed to return. The Coast Guard said filing a float plan with their family helped lead to the happy ending.