Search and rescue efforts are continuing for two fishermen reported missing after failing to return from a fishing trip that began on Monday evening, as regional and local agencies continue to assist in an operation coordinated by the Cayman Islands Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard confirmed that it has been leading the search since 4:15pm on Tuesday, 21 Oct., after a concerned family member notified the 911 Centre.
The missing men have been identified as Corey Nikito Brown, 38, who was last seen wearing a brown long-sleeve shirt and cream pants, and Amilcar Rosales Smith, 41, who was last seen wearing a baby blue shirt and light blue jeans with the left leg cut off.
The pair reportedly departed from the Brac Reef Resort in Cayman Brac around 6:00pm on Monday, 20 Oct., bound for Swordfish Bank.
The missing vessel is described as a blue 24–28-foot fishing boat powered by a single 100 HP engine.
An initial aerial search was carried out by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service helicopter between 6:08pm and 7:30pm on Tuesday in the area where the fishermen were believed to be headed, but no sign of the vessel or its occupants was found.
Officers from the Department of Environment stationed in Cayman Brac and the US Coast Guard’s Rescue Coordination Center in Miami have been providing support, with the USCG supplying a drift probability table to guide search efforts.
Search and rescue operations resumed at 4am on Wednesday, 22 Oct., focusing on a 92-nautical-mile perimeter spanning approximately 495 square nautical miles.
The CICG conducted an extensive search aboard Patrol Vessel Guardian, within the calculated area of probability, which it said was determined using the vessel’s size, prevailing winds and ocean currents to pinpoint the most likely drift location.
The Jamaica Defence Force Air Wing provided aerial support, coordinating closely with Guardian to maximize coverage across the search area.
Search operations were suspended at 3pm on 22 Oct. due to worsening weather conditions around the Sister Islands.
The Coast Guard said the search will resume once conditions improve and it is safe to continue.
Authorities continue to appeal to the public for assistance. Anyone who may have seen a blue fishing vessel matching this description, or who has any information that could assist in locating the men, is urged to contact the Coast Guard Operations and Rescue Command Centre at 649-6722 or call 911 immediately.
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