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Search Ends For Tarpon Springs Shrimper

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 12, 2007

TARPON SPRINGS - After searching for two days, U.S. Coast Guard crews Tuesday night called off the search for a shrimper who disappeared after falling over the railing of his commercial vessel Monday afternoon.

Coast Guard crews in the air and on the water searched Monday night and all day Tuesday for the Tarpon Springs fisherman.

Joseph Reed, 40, of Tarpon Springs was not wearing a life vest when he fell over the side of the Charlie Girl shrimp boat out of Tarpon Springs, authorities said.

Coast Guard crews searched a 40- to 60-square-mile area about 35 miles west of Tarpon Springs.
Reed fell into the water about 4:15 p.m. Monday.

Monday night, Coast Guard crews scoured the expanse with helicopters from the Clearwater Coast Guard station and a 47-foot boat from Sand Key, and on Tuesday, crews used a C-130 airplane flying out of the Clearwater station along with a 110-foot cutter, the Key Biscayne.

Typically, searches continue until weather conditions prohibit it or until it is determined that a person treading water cannot survive the conditions, usually, in this area, no more than 36 hours.

The search was called off Tuesday night, a Coast Guard spokesman said early today.

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7600 or at kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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