Coast Guard Suspending Search For NFL Players

Florida Missing The Coast Guard says it is suspending at sundown the search for two NFL players and another man whose boat capsized off Florida's Gulf Coast.

by The Associated Press

Published: Tue, March 03, 2009 - 3:41 pm CST

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) - The Coast Guard says it is suspending at
sundown the search for two NFL players and another man whose boat
capsized off Florida's Gulf Coast.
The Coast Guard said Tuesday it doesn't believe anyone is on the
surface of the water.
Crews had narrowed their search for Oakland Raiders linebacker
Marquis Cooper, free-agent NFL defensive lineman Corey Smith and
former University of South Florida player William Bleakley after
finding a survivor Monday.
Former South Florida player Nick Schuyler was found clutching to
the boat's hull.
Schuyler told the Coast Guard that the boat was anchored when it
capsized Saturday in high seas.

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

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rosepetal Says:

Wed, Mar 04, 2009 at 10:39 am

oh boy, not me. we know more about space than whats under the sea. no way. i do not swim in rivers either.

ickthus Says:

Wed, Mar 04, 2009 at 10:30 am

i worked underwater, i know what there, lol yes i would be scared

rosepetal Says:

Wed, Mar 04, 2009 at 10:10 am

ickthus, that would scare me to death. not only being in the water like that, but wondering what was swimming underneath me. you must be very very brave. not me.

ickthus Says:

Wed, Mar 04, 2009 at 9:59 am

i worked out in the gulf for 17yrs. been in bad weather and heavy sea. had 10’+ waves knock out the windows of the wheelhouse on the 110’ crew boat. i have had life jackets on think about what was to come a few times.

mustuknow Says:

Wed, Mar 04, 2009 at 9:50 am

Well I get that it would have been impossible to stay up there in 10 foot seas but I cannot imagine just giving up. I know that hypothermia makes people do strange things and I am not judging or questioning their actions but to me these were 3 strong and conditioned young men who had everything in the world to live for. It is just a sad situation all the way around. I am so happy for the family of the Schuyler man but I imagine he (Nick Schuyler) will have a heavy load on his mind over the next days and months ahead of him. I mean going through something like this and being the only one to survive, especially when they were his friends has got to be a living nightmare.

I sincerely hope that at the very least they can recover their bodies and give the families some closure.

rosepetal Says:

Wed, Mar 04, 2009 at 9:46 am

i just really hope they find them, anything is possible. if they do not find them alive at least find the remains so the family will have hope of closure. its just very very sad.

ickthus Says:

Wed, Mar 04, 2009 at 9:44 am

the sea was to high to get on top at that time. he got on top much later. no body could stay on top in 10’+ sea

mustuknow Says:

Wed, Mar 04, 2009 at 9:38 am

Maybe this is a stupid question but the one that was found was sitting on the back of the boat on the video I saw. That being said would they not all had been better to have gotten on top of the boat and huddled together to try and stay warm? Were they more likely to suffer hypothermia in the water or if they would have gotten out and just suffered against the elements? Anyone know?

ickthus Says:

Wed, Mar 04, 2009 at 9:31 am

rose the one that lived said the other three took off there life vest and gave up and swam or driffed off. no hope for them now ,i’m afraid

rosepetal Says:

Wed, Mar 04, 2009 at 9:26 am

i heard while the coastguard has called off the search, the family and friends are starting their own. they were on tv this morning i really hope they find them alive.