Coast Guard Suspends Search For Overboard Sailor Off SoCal Coast

SAN PEDRO, CA — The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its active search Tuesday for a sailor who fell off a ship off the Southern California coast, ending hope for his recovery.

The sailor went overboard from the carrier ship African Cardinal 14 miles southwest of Point Conception while en route to the Port of Long Beach, according to the Coast Guard.

Crews searched for him for nearly 15 hours across more than 200 square nautical miles to no avail.

``We extend our deepest sympathies to this crew member's friends and family," said Chief Warrant Officer John Rose, search and rescue mission coordinator at Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach. ``The decision to suspend an active search is never easy and is only made after exhaustive efforts to find the missing person."

Authorities did not publicly identify the sailor lost at sea.

The Coast Guard's Long Beach Command Center received a report at approximately 5 a.m of the crew member who had gone overboard, the Coast Guard said. The center's watchstanders immediately issued an urgent marine information broadcast, stating the nature of the situation.

A rescue helicopter took off from Forward Operating Base Point Mugu, a small boat crew departed from Coast Guard Station Channel Islands and the Coast Guard Cutter Robert Ward was diverted to search for the crew member, the Coast Guard reported.

Anyone with information regarding the rescue was urged to call the Coast Guard's Los Angeles-Long Beach Sector at 310-521-3801.

City News Service contributed to this report.