Search Resumes for Boater Who Fell Overboard Tuesday

The U.S. Coast Guard and Orange County sheriff’s personnel today resumed searching for a 43-year-old man in the waters near Dana Point.

Riverside resident Tan Hoang Vu, 43, and a companion fell overboard from their 20-foot powerboat Tuesday at approximately 9:00 a.m. after a mechanical failure on their boat. Vu’s companion,, 39-year-old Thuan Hieu Dang, of Garden Grove, was located in the water, exhausted and barely afloat at 12:10 p.m. Tuesday. He was rescued a mile off the shore of Dana Point. Dang was treated at Mission Hospital in Laguna Beach and released in good condition.

Harbor Patrol initially found the boat, a 20-foot Whaler spinning in circles two miles west of Dana Point at about 11 a.m.

At approximately 8:00 p.m. last night, the search for Vu was suspended due to darkness. As part of the investigation, Harbor Patrol deputies towed the vessel to a dock and conducted an examination. The preliminary investigation indicates there was a mechanical failure on board that caused the vessel to abruptly turn, causing both Dang and Vu to fall overboard; however, the investigation is ongoing.

The search for Vu has resumed this morning at 7:00 a.m.

Vu is a male, Asian, 6 feet, 250 pounds, last seen wearing a white t-shirt and blue jeans.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Harbor Patrol Office at (949) 723-1002 or (714) 647-7000. Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.com.

City News Service contributed to this report.