Coast Guard Finds Person Clinging To Overturned Boat

Florida Coast Guard The survivor is former USF player Nick Schuyler. Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper Detroit Lions free agent Corey Smith and another former USF player remain missing.

by The Associated Press

Published: Mon, March 02, 2009 - 12:12 pm CST Last Updated: Mon, March 02, 2009 - 2:38 pm CST

12:46 p.m.
CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) - The Coast Guard says the overturned boat
it found off Florida's Gulf Coast belongs to Oakland Raiders
linebacker Marquis Cooper. The survivor found clinging to the
vessel is former University of South Florida player Nick Schuyler.
The Coast Guard says Cooper, Detroit Lions free agent Corey
Smith and another former USF player, William Bleakley, remain
missing.
TV showed Schuyler being helped from a Coast Guard helicopter at
Tampa General Hospital. He appeared conscious.
The Coast Guard had been searching for the four men since they
were reported missing early Sunday morning, one day after they left
on a fishing trip. As of Monday morning, the Coast Guard had
searched 16,000 square miles off Florida's Gulf Coast.

12:12 p.m.
CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) - The Coast Guard says it has found a
person clinging to an overturned boat off Florida's Gulf Coast, but
could not immediately confirm whether it is the same boat carrying
NFL players Corey Smith, Marquis Cooper and two other men.
The Coast Guard has been searching for the four men since they
were reported missing early Sunday morning. As of Monday morning,
they had searched 16,000 square miles off Florida's Gulf Coast.
Petty Officer Sondra-Kay Kneen said they have located a vessel
Monday and "a person on that vessel."
No further details were provided.
Cooper is an Oakland Raiders linebacker. Smith is a Detroit
Lions free-agent defensive end. William Bleakley and Nick Schuyler,
the other men on board, are both former University of South Florida
players.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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RNuts Says:

Tue, Mar 03, 2009 at 10:25 am

I heard (maybe just a rumor) that a rogue wave capsized the boat. (?)

mustuknow Says:

Tue, Mar 03, 2009 at 9:18 am

I so hope and pray that they are able to locate these other three men. I know that there are many obstacles against them at this point but it is encouraging to me that they were all still alive early Monday morning….

rolltide33 Says:

Mon, Mar 02, 2009 at 5:47 pm

Sad story. It can turn on you so quickly out there. Even the saltiest of us are taken by suprise at times. Its risky going out to the rip in such a small boat with only one engine. It would be a lie, however, to say I have not tested fate in a similar vessel.

RNuts Says:

Mon, Mar 02, 2009 at 5:07 pm

I think that they had engine problems. That would explain capsizing. If it was running fine they would have made it back in maybe, a little late though. It’s getting dark there now and I pray the other 3 can hold out until tomorrow.

rosepetal Says:

Mon, Mar 02, 2009 at 2:16 pm

i know nothing about football, but this is the fathers name.

Nick Schuyler’s dad and stepmother, Stuart and Jackie Schuyler

hope this helps

cmb1 Says:

Mon, Mar 02, 2009 at 1:44 pm

I wonder if that was Coach Schuylers son that they found? 4 football players.

rosepetal Says:

Mon, Mar 02, 2009 at 1:41 pm

cmb1, sorry i sure missed that part. i really hope they find the other men. its really tragic.

rosepetal Says:

Mon, Mar 02, 2009 at 1:40 pm

sorry, i thought it was only 2 and they were football players.

cmb1 Says:

Mon, Mar 02, 2009 at 1:38 pm

to clear up Rosepetal there are still 3 missing men they only found 1.

rosepetal Says:

Mon, Mar 02, 2009 at 1:21 pm

well i hope they find the other player. maybe some way some how he survived also. thanks for clearing that up about the boat thats why i only fish from the shore. i have never seen a boat big enough i would feel safe on.

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