MIAMI (WFMY) - The Coast Guard has suspended its search for a missing Greensboro man who reportedly went overboard while on a cruise ship.
Coast Guard crews spent 55 hours while covering 3,059 square miles during their search for 50-year-old, Brian Lamonds.
The Coast Guard suspended their search Wednesday night around 9:00 p.m.
Lamonds reportedly went overboard about 85 miles west of Fort Myers while on a Carnival Paradise cruise.
The US Coast Guard Key West watchstanders said they received a call Tuesday around 10 a.m., from the cruise ship saying a man was missing and was overboard about 85 miles west of Fort Myers, Fla.
“I have been in contact with members of Mr. Lamonds’ family throughout our search efforts and know this is a very difficult and painful time for them,” said Cmdr. David Aldous, search and rescue mission coordinator for the Coast Guard 7th District. “Suspending a search is one of the most difficult decisions we have to make as first responders, and it is never made lightly.”
A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, an Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft crew and the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Isaac Mayo, homeported in Key West, aided in the search.
Carnival Cruise released this statement about the incident:
On Tuesday morning, a male guest went overboard as the ship was sailing from Tampa to Key West, Florida. The Coast Guard was notified and is currently conducting a search for the guest. We are cooperating fully with all authorities. Our Care Team is providing support and assistance to the guest’s family.
The cruise ship was transiting from Tampa to Key West when the incident took place.
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