TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Survivor Remains In Good Condition; Investigation Continues

ADVERTISEMENT

By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 5, 2009

Nick Schuyler, the only one rescued so far of four men whose boat capsized Saturday in the Gulf of Mexico, remained in good condition today, though still in intensive care.

Schuyler is recovering from hypothermia after spending about 40 hours clinging to the overturned fishing boat. His condition has not changed since Wednesday, said Ellen Fiss, spokeswoman for Tampa General Hospital.

Schuyler may be released at the end of the week or early next week, his doctor said Wednesday. He is being monitored for complications after his body temperature dropped to 89 degrees.

Searchers found the former University of South Florida football player about noon Monday. He was sitting on the hull of the boat, about 40 miles southwest of Clearwater.

His three companions – former Tampa Bay Buccaneers Marquis Cooper and Cory Smith, and Will Bleakley, also a former USF football player and longtime friend of Schuyler – are still missing.

The Coast Guard ended its search for the three men at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday but will reassess if something is found, even an article of clothing.

Coast Guard vessels and aircraft on routine patrols will continue looking for signs of the missing men, Petty Officer Barry Bena said.

Anyone finding something should immediately contact the Coast Guard or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, spokesman Gary Morse said. The commission can be reached at 1-888-404-3922.

On Wednesday, the commission inspected Cooper's 21-foot, center console boat, which was towed to shore by a private salvage company. The vessel appeared to have capsized quickly because of the number of items still trapped under the overturned boat.

More of those loose items would have floated away if it had turned over slowly, Morse said. Commission investigators are expected to release a report in four to six weeks, about typical for such a review.

"We're going to take our time and make sure we have everything right," Morse said. "We have to do that for the families."

Though the official search that started about 2 a.m. Sunday has been suspended, others are looking.

On Wednesday, volunteers continued hunting the Gulf waters at the urging of Cooper's father, Bruce. He and other friends and family are encouraging pilots and "experienced and qualified" boaters to continue the search.

Marquis' friends and families are subsidizing the pilots to the tune of $50 an hour, plus fuel, Bruce Cooper said.

Also, Mark Hubbard, of Hubbard's Marina, took out a 75-foot boat with four other professional captains on board to help with the search Wednesday morning. Cooper's family has agreed to pay the $800 in fuel costs, but others, including a local doctor, are donating cash to help foot the bill, Hubbard said.

Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (813) 259-7731.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT